NDC candidate Terhemba Shija says Benue’s agricultural potential can end poverty, create jobs and transform the state’s economy ahead of 2027
The 2027 governorship candidate of the National Democratic Congress, Prof. Terhemba Shija, has described Benue State as “too blessed to be poor”, arguing on Thursday, September 3, 2026, that the state can overcome poverty by fully developing its agricultural and economic resources.
Also read: Rufai Oseni Warns Tinubu to Tread Carefully with Wike as Atiku, Obi and 2027 Politics Heat Up
Shija made the assertion in a statement issued by his media aide, Sam Adzegeh, while outlining his vision for agriculture and economic development in Benue ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
The NDC candidate said agriculture should serve as the foundation of Benue’s economic transformation because of the state’s extensive arable land and diverse agricultural resources.
He expressed concern, however, that only about 36 per cent of the state’s available arable land is currently being utilised.
Shija also identified inadequate dry-season irrigation as a major obstacle, saying many farmers remain dependent on annual rainfall and therefore produce mainly once a year.
“Since they hardly engage in dry-season irrigation, they harvest only once a year,” he said.
Despite these challenges, Shija noted that Benue remains one of Nigeria’s leading producers of cassava, yam, soybean and citrus, while also producing significant quantities of beniseed, rice, groundnuts and melon.
He said the state’s agricultural diversity extends to more than 20 crops, including potatoes, ginger, cocoyam, pepper, millet, sorghum, tomatoes and maize.
Tree crops such as oil palm, cashew and mango are also cultivated in different parts of the state, highlighting what Shija described as the enormous potential available to drive economic growth.
The challenge facing farmers
Shija said the central problem was not a lack of agricultural resources but the conditions under which many farmers operate.
According to him, subsistence farming remains widespread, with farmers often working on small plots using traditional tools and having limited access to finance and modern agricultural inputs.
He argued that the situation contributes to low productivity and poor yields per hectare.
The NDC candidate also pointed to limited livestock production as another area requiring greater attention if Benue is to maximise its agricultural economy.
For Shija, agriculture goes beyond food production. He said a stronger agricultural sector could generate employment, increase export earnings, raise household incomes and improve living standards.
“The contribution of agriculture to economic growth lies in providing food, increasing foreign earnings through the export of manufactured goods, increasing social income, providing productive employment and improving welfare,” he stated.
Shija’s prescription for Benue
Shija maintained that Benue farmers have the capacity to produce food on a scale capable of making a significant contribution to Nigeria’s food supply.
He said farmers require better infrastructure, access to affordable financing, training, modern technology and appropriate legal and institutional support.
“Benue farmers have the potential to feed the entire population of Nigeria but lack the infrastructure, financing, training, technology, legal structure and other key inputs to produce at that level,” Shija said.
He argued that investment in irrigation would be particularly important because it could allow farmers to extend production beyond the rainy season and make more productive use of available farmland.
The candidate said improved access to agricultural technology and finance could also help farmers move from subsistence production to commercially viable farming.
Shija believes such a transformation could create thousands of jobs while strengthening food security and positioning Benue as a major economic hub.
His comments come as political parties and candidates begin setting out their economic priorities ahead of the 2027 elections, with agriculture likely to remain a central issue in Benue given the state’s reputation as a major food-producing region.
For Shija, the challenge is to turn that reputation into measurable prosperity for farmers and residents.
Also read: Rufai Oseni Warns Tinubu to Tread Carefully with Wike as Atiku, Obi and 2027 Politics Heat Up
His message is clear: Benue’s agricultural wealth, if properly supported and commercially developed, could become a powerful engine for reducing poverty and expanding economic opportunity across the state.
