Alia hails army division approval for Benue
Governor Hyacinth Alia expressed gratitude to President Tinubu following the approval to establish the Nigerian Army’s 5 Division headquarters in Makurdi.
Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu following the approval to establish the Nigerian Army’s 5 Division headquarters in Makurdi. State officials noted that establishing the new military command will significantly enhance tactical security, intelligence gathering, and rapid response capabilities across the Middle Belt region.
The approval of the 5 Division headquarters is a significant development for Benue State, which has been plagued by insecurity, including farmer-herder conflicts and banditry. The new command will bring military leadership closer to the frontline, improving response times and operational effectiveness.
This echoes the 2010s establishment of military commands in other states, which also sought to improve security. The mechanism then was different, but the result was the same: a recognition that military presence can improve security.
The winners: Benue State residents, who may benefit from improved security; and the Nigerian Army, which gains a new command. The losers: the Nigerian budget, which must fund the new command; and the criminals, who face increased military presence.
Bottom Line: Alia has thanked Tinubu for approving an army division in Benue. The goal is better security. The question is whether the new command will make a difference.