Benue State is set to roll out the red carpet as President Bola Ahmed Tinubu prepares for a landmark one-day visit on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. The visit, which has stirred a wave of excitement and high-level mobilization across the state, has prompted the Benue State Government to declare the day work-free in honour of the President.
The declaration was made public in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Deborah T. Aber, in the state capital, Makurdi. According to Aber, the public holiday aims to allow residents to come out en masse to welcome the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who is visiting to commiserate with the government and people of Benue over the unrelenting security challenges plaguing the state.
“This is in honour of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is scheduled for a one-day visit to the state. The visit is to commiserate with the government and people of the state over incessant security challenges,” the statement read.
However, workers engaged in essential services such as healthcare, security agencies, and banks are exempted from the work-free order.
Meanwhile, in a strongly-worded circular dated June 17, 2025, from the Office of the Executive Governor on Special Groups Mobilization, support groups across Benue have been directed to turn out in large numbers for a colourful “shoulder-to-shoulder” procession. The procession is scheduled to move from the Makurdi Airport to the Wurukum Roundabout, then proceed to the Government House where President Tinubu will address a town-hall meeting.
The circular, signed by Hon. Francis U. Ngutswen, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Groups Mobilization, called for strict accreditation by number and colour, indicating a highly coordinated show of unity and hospitality in honour of the visiting President.
At the heart of this mobilization is Governor Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, who, according to the letter, initiated the mass mobilization as leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, aiming to offer the President a resounding welcome.
In a related development, Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga confirmed that President Tinubu had rescheduled his previously planned trip to Kaduna State, redirecting his immediate focus to Benue as part of his administration’s renewed push to restore peace and stability in conflict-ridden regions.
With anticipation building and the streets of Makurdi being readied for a grand reception, Wednesday’s visit could mark a turning point in federal-state relations and a symbol of solidarity amidst Benue’s ongoing quest for peace.
