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Benue State Governor, Reverend Father Hyacinth Iormemem Alia, has cleared ₦96 million in outstanding arrears owed to the National Christian Pilgrimage Welfare Board (NCPWB) by the previous administration, enabling 78 pilgrims who had waited three years to finally embark on their spiritual journey to the Holy Land in 2025.
The Chairman of the Benue State Christian Pilgrimage Welfare Board, Reverend Father Michael Meladudu, disclosed this during a courtesy visit by the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Benue State Council, led by its Chairman, Comrade Bemdoo Ugber, in Makurdi.
According to Fr. Meladudu, the payment represents Governor Alia’s deliberate message to Christians in the state and across the 19 northern states that his administration is committed not only to massive infrastructural development but also to nurturing the spiritual well-being of the faithful.
The NUJ Chairman, Comrade Bemdoo Ugber, commended Fr. Meladudu’s appointment and leadership style, describing him as pragmatic and dogged. He noted that since assuming office, the chairman has transformed the board, successfully lobbying the governor to sponsor the long-delayed pilgrimage contingent and restore hope to intending pilgrims.
Ugber proposed a formal partnership between the board and the NUJ to amplify the board’s activities and ensure wider public awareness. He specifically requested that slots be allocated to journalists to join future pilgrimages, allowing them to experience the spiritual renewal firsthand while using the opportunity to report live on events in Jerusalem for audiences back home.
Fr. Meladudu welcomed the partnership proposal, acknowledging the influential role of journalism in shaping public perception and the “power of the mind.” He promised to consider the request for media slots and thanked Governor Alia for deeming him worthy of the appointment.
He further revealed that he had already briefed the governor on plans to establish an international standard kindergarten within the board’s premises. Once completed and commissioned, the facility is expected to become a revenue-generating entity, enabling the board to fund additional projects and achieve greater financial independence.
The development underscores the Alia administration’s dual focus on physical infrastructure and spiritual welfare, while the emerging collaboration between the Christian Pilgrimage Welfare Board and NUJ signals efforts to enhance transparency, public engagement, and broader participation in state-sponsored faith-based programmes.
