An American missionary, Alex, has accused the Benue State Government of blocking his plan to rebuild a local market in Yelwata and allegedly inflating the project cost from about ₦60 million to ₦300 million, even as “people are suffering in Nigeria.”
Alex, who said he came to support displaced and struggling communities, explained that he first approached the state’s humanitarian commissioner to formally present his plan to rebuild the market.
“I had to go to the humanitarian commissioner and I let them know of my desire here, what I’m supposed to do,” he said.
According to him, he was later told that he was not permitted to carry out the project because the government had its own plans to build the market.
“They said that the government has plans to build the market,” Alex stated, adding that officials promised to share the government’s market design within a few days.
However, he said weeks passed without any response.
“They said, we’ll send you the plan tomorrow, maybe two days. And I waited over two weeks, no response,” he said. “And I’m pressuring, I’m asking, so what is happening?”
Alex said instead of receiving the promised plan, he was later sent a video proposing a ₦300 million market project for Yelwada.
“I have no plan. And they sent me a video of a 300 million plan for a market in Yelwada,” he said.
He noted that while he was stopped from rebuilding the market with what he described as a modest budget, the government appeared ready to approve a far more expensive project.
“While they told me I can’t build, I would spend maybe 50 or 60 million to rebuild everything,” he said.
Questioning the proposed cost, Alex expressed disbelief that a rural market could justify such an amount.
“I said, what market in any village or town is there that is worth 300 million Nigeria? Not one. Zero,” he said. “Even in cities. Which city has 300 million market? Very few.”
Alex said he refused to be part of what he described as a questionable process.
“I said, I would not partake in this,” he stated.
He also raised concerns about how funds meant for vulnerable people are allegedly being handled, stressing that suffering cuts across religion and background.
“People are using funds that are meant for the persecuted, the afflicted. Christian or Muslim, it doesn’t even matter,” he said. “People are suffering in Nigeria.”
According to him, money meant to provide relief, food, rebuilding support and humanitarian aid is not getting to those who truly need it.
“Funds are supposed to be reaching those people to help them, to rebuild, to give food, to give aid,” Alex said. “And the money that’s is not making it to them.”
He called for transparency and accountability in the handling of public and humanitarian funds.
“There needs to be purity within funds and within the government,” he said, urging authorities to “do things openly” and ensure accountability in public spending.
The Benue State Government has not responded publicly to the allegations at the time of filing this report.
