Federal lawmaker Austin Achado has decried what he describes as the “unlawful closure of business premises and sustained harassment” by the Benue State Government. Achado, who represents Gwer East/Gwer West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, made these remarks during a press briefing in Makurdi on Thursday.
He raised concerns over the sealing of City Bay Park and Benysta Microfinance Bank, part of his business ventures, as well as other premises allegedly owned by members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
Achado alleged that the closures were politically motivated, stating, “Governor Alia’s administration has consistently threatened key APC stakeholders, including myself, who were instrumental in his election victory. This pattern of oppression raises serious concerns about his commitment to good governance.”
According to Achado, officials from the Benue State Internal Revenue Service and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, accompanied by law enforcement, sealed the premises on December 23, 2024. They reportedly presented demand notices dated earlier that month for business registration fees.
He noted that despite City Bay Park’s management promptly paying ₦20,000 for registration and ₦219,000 in default charges, a second enforcement team arrived and resealed the premises. This operation allegedly involved excessive force, including the use of tear gas, which caused injuries and distress among customers, including children and the elderly.
“Many of the businesses are owned by people whom the governor fondly calls the ‘masses,’” Achado said. He lamented that perishable goods purchased for the Christmas season by vendors at the park had spoiled due to the sudden closure.
Several tenants of the park expressed their grievances to the press. Suleiman Hassan, Shaaji Martha, and others demanded compensation for their losses.
Miss Nexy Josephine, CEO of Nexy Unisex Fashion, stated, “I have lost over ₦5 million due to the closure. I even spent Christmas Eve at the police station after failing to deliver wedding clothes to a client.”
Shaaji Martha, representing vendors selling perishable goods, added, “Our goods have perished, leaving us in financial distress. We need compensation to restart our businesses.”
Calls for Intervention
Achado described the state government’s actions as “unlawful, barbaric, and detrimental to the socio-economic progress of Benue State.” He argued that the closures were executed without a court order and called on Governor Hyacinth Alia to reconsider such measures.
He appealed to the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to ensure that law enforcement in Benue is not used for political intimidation. Additionally, he urged the National Leadership of the APC to caution Governor Alia against targeting party stakeholders.
“The Fr. Alia that I personally know and worked for cannot do this. If he did, it means someone is influencing him,” said Benedict Achado, manager of City Bay Park, who also highlighted the park’s economic importance to local vendors and families.
The controversy has sparked debate in Benue, with many awaiting the government’s response to the allegations and demands for compensation.
