Plight Of IDPs, Matter Of Serious Concern To My Administration – Gov Alia

…Appreciates UNHCR for mobilizing resources for the cause

Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has declared that the plight of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), remains a matter of serious and urgent concerns to his administration.

Governor Alia, who stated this when he received in audience a delegation of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), expressed gratitude to the world body for mobilizing resources for refugees and the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

The Governor who expressed excitement by the visit, said he was hopeful that it would increase the already existing bond between the government and the UNHCR, aimed at tackling the humanitarian crises in the state.

He reiterated his administration’s resolute stand and determination to continue to address the needs of the IDPs, and also commended the UN for setting up offices for UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in Benue state.

Alia however, expressed regrets over the security challenges in Benue, but, assured of his administration’s resolve to continue to work together with the security agencies to ensure the safety of everyone living in the state, and to restore the lives and livelihoods along the Makurdi-Kadarko routes, the deep fields in Guma, Kwande, Gwer, Agatu and Logo LGAs, where displacement and insecurity have severely impacted.

Highlighting some of the steps taken by his government to support the humanitarian efforts in the state, Governor Alia said aside from the establishment of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management and the strengthening of the SEMA office, the Bureau of International Cooperation and Development (BICD) was also set up to serve as a gateway agency for donor relations and resource mobilization for MDAs.

Alia announced the donation of the old Ministry of Information building along Barracks road, as a central hub for UN activities in the state and also the allocation of farmlands for the IDPs and Cameroonian refugees in Ikyogen to enable them to go into farming.

He also announced the allocation of vendor assignment from MDAs to the IDPs to aide their integration into the society; establishment of cooperatives to enable the IDPs to engage in income-generating activities, as well as the setting up of IDPs farms meant to carter for their feeding needs, as some of the initiatives put in place by the government to help the plight of the displaced persons in the state.

While also commending the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government for their support towards ensuring the return of the IDPs to their ancestral homes, Governor Alia intimated the delegation of the proposed 3,000 housing units which will provide shelter and vital services to at least 16,000 forcibly displaced persons, adding that each compound will be complemented by essential infrastructure such as good roads, hospitals, markets, good water provision among others.

The Governor reaffirmed the close collaboration between the government and donor agencies for the IDPs in the state, saying his administration will always ensure that anybody who calls Benue home thrives.

Earlier in his address, the leader of the UNHCR delegation and the UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Operations, Mr. Raouf Mazou, commended the government of Benue State for efforts in responding to the humanitarian crisis in the state and for providing shelter for the Cameroonian refugees at Ikyogen, in Kwande local government area.  Mazou assured that the UNHCR will continue to be supportive in helping the state in its response to the humanitarian crisis.

Speaking in turn, the German Ambassador to Nigeria who was part of the delegation, Ambassador Annett Günther, said she was happy to be on the delegation because Governor Alia has shown concern for the IDPs through his support for the Durable Solution initiative, and most importantly, for the good leadership qualities he has demonstrated in office so far.

Günther called for continued collaboration from all stakeholders involved to ensure the IDPs and refugees enjoy a better life.

Other prominent members of the delegation were UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, Ruvendrini Menikdiwela; the UNHCR Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Abdouraouf Gnon-Konde, amongst others.