Traditional rulers in Kwande and Logo Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Benue State, have donated land for the construction of shelter for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state.
The development followed a joint visit by officials of the Renewed Hope Shelter for the Poor, Refugees and IDPs and those of the Benue State Government.
Governor Hyacinth Alia, had during governorship campaigns, promised to ensure the resettlement of IDPs if elected as governor.
A few days ago, Governor Alia met with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during which he briefed the president about state of affairs in his state including his resettlement plan.
The Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management in the state, Aondowase Kunde, said the joint visit to Kwande and Logo LGAs was a demonstration of the commitment of President Tinubu to supporting the resettlement plan of the Benue State Government.
Kunde therefore urged traditional rulers in the affected areas to give maximum cooperation and donate land for the development of shelter for IDPs, adding that returning the people home is a process and providing shelter is a top priority of the state government.
In Kwande, four council wards are affected while Logo Local Government has five affected wards.
Accordingly, large expanse of land was donated in Kwande at Waya and Anyiase for the resettlement plan while in Logo, land was allocated at Azera and Anyiin.
Similarly, Mue Ter Ichรดngo in the Kwande Area Traditional Council, Chief Simon Baver and Mue Ter Ipusu in the Logo Area Traditional Council, Chief Enoch Iorhuna, welcome the plan to resettle their displaced ones.
The two traditional rulers said that they have been looking forward to when their displaced people as a result of attacks by armed wing of cattle owners will return home and commended Governor Alia for working to actualise his campaign promise.
Representative of the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and National Programme Manager, Renewed Hope Shelter for the Poor, Refugees and IDPs, Chidimma Makuachukwu, told the traditional rulers that the visit was to identify areas where shelter will be provided for the displaced.
She said that President Tinubu was concerned about the plight of the IDPs, adding that the provision of shelter is the first step among other majors in place by the Tinubu administration to impact the people of need.
While commending Governor Alia for recognising the need to resettle the IDPs, Makuachukwu thanked the chiefs for allocating land for the project and assured that sooner than later, construction work will commence at the designated sites.
Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), James Iorapuu, has said that the agency in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), has commenced biometric verification of IDPs, for ease of allocation of homes.
