Benue launches ₦1.27bn humanitarian fund for displaced persons
The Benue State Government has flagged off the implementation of a ₦1.275 billion humanitarian intervention fund targeted at displaced persons in Yelewata and various Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps across the state.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony held at the Cabinet Office, Makurdi, Serumun Aber, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), said the initiative marked another significant step in the state’s collective effort to bring relief, hope, and dignity to displaced persons and host communities.
“It is with great honour and a deep sense of responsibility that I stand before you today to flag off the official implementation of ₦1,275,000,000 humanitarian intervention funds. This initiative marks another significant step in our collective effort to bring relief, hope, and dignity to our brothers and sisters in Yelewata and the various IDP camps and host communities across our dear state”, Aber said.
She further explained that the intervention was made possible through the support and collaboration of Senator Oluremi Tinubu, wife of the President; the Nasarawa State Government; United Bank for Africa (UBA); and the Department of State Services (DSS).
According to her, the purpose of the initiative is to alleviate hardship, restore livelihoods, and strengthen the vision of inclusive development under the leadership of Governor Hyacinth Alia.
She assured that the funds would be transparently and equitably distributed to ensure that every intended beneficiary receives the necessary support to rebuild their lives.
Aber urged members of the Implementation Committee on the Yelewata and IDP Intervention Fund to demonstrate dedication and draw up effective plans for judicious utilization of the funds.
She disclosed that the implementation would be executed in three tranches — the first covering one to six months, the second from six to eighteen months, and the third from eighteen to thirty-six months.
The SSG added that artisans and suppliers would be sourced from within the IDP communities and the state to encourage local participation, while she also sought the support of traditional rulers and local government authorities for successful execution of the project.
Also speaking, Aondowase Kunde, commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, commended Governor Alia and the SSG for the transparent handling of the process.
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He pledged his ministry’s commitment to ensuring that the intervention reaches all targeted IDPs, adding that the government planned to provide temporary shelters, potable water, mobile clinics, and strengthen security patrols in the affected areas.
In separate remarks, Margaret Adamu, commissioner for Education and Knowledge Management, and her counterpart from the Ministry of Health and Human Services, Paul Ogwuche, both lauded the governor’s initiative, noting that it would reduce the number of out-of-school children and improve the health and sanitation conditions of displaced persons.
The event, attended by top government officials and representatives of donor agencies, was described by participants as a milestone in Benue’s ongoing humanitarian response to the protracted displacement crisis in the state.
