Benue State Government has distributed assorted relief materials worth over N1,275,000 million been intervention of the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Nasarawa State Government, United Bank for Africa (UBA) and the Department of State Services, (DSS) to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of the Yelewata attack.
Speaking at the event held at the headquarters of Benue SEMA in Makurdi, the Secretary to the State Government, Dcns. Serumun Deborah Aber, expressed gratitude to both the state government and the Technical Committee on the implementation of the intervention which has been extended to other camps and host communities in the state.
The SSG said “the intervention came at a yuletide season, when our brothers and sisters in various IDP camps and host communities are preparing to celebrate the Christmas season, which she noted symbolises hope, love, compassion, and renewed faith in humanity.
She reminded people of the state of ongoing efforts of government to alleviate the plights of the displaced victims, particularly “in the areas of food and non-food material distribution, Resettlement (Construction of new Houses for a cluster settlement – already ongoing in Yelewata, Conditional Cash Transfer to 1000 beneficiaries across the Camps and host communities, WASH (which already drilled 3 boreholes in Yelewata) Agricultural Support, Education, among others”.
Dcns Abe noted that the distribution of the relief materials was largely drawn from the Food and Nutrition Component of the generous donation made by the First Lady, Senator Tinubu, whose Renewed Hope intervention has contributed to the ongoing efforts of Governor Hyacinth Alia in the humanitarian crisis in Benue State.
The SSG said in complementing this noble gesture, the State’s Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management under Hon. Aondowase Kunde, and Benue SEMA headed by Sir James Iorpuu, alongside other partners like IOM, UNHCR, CSOs, the media have made strategic contributions to ensure that transparency has translated into tangible relief items that directly address the basic household needs of the IDPs.
She announced that from these combined funds, essential food items such as rice, maize, beans, gari,vegetable oil, and condiments were procured, alongside critical non-food items including blankets, mats, toiletries, and many other household essentials for onward distribution to the victims.
Dcns Abe expressed gratitude for the humanitarian support received from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-pa Saints, whose donation of food and non-food items significantly strengthened government’s response capacity.
“Their consistent commitment to alleviating human suffering, particularly among displaced populations in Benue State, is both commendable and deeply appreciated.
The SSG said the collective donations have enabled other notable interventions aimed at improving the dignity and well-being of IDPs, these include enhanced nutrition support for vulnerable groups such as children, pregnant and nursing mothers, as well as the reinforcement of camp-level support services.
She particularly acknowledged the commencement of a gigantic water treatment plant in Naka in Gwer-West Local Government Area, stressing that “this critical infrastructure will provide access to safe and clean water not only for IDPs but also for surrounding host communities. It stands as a long-term, sustainable intervention that promotes public health, human dignity, and peaceful coexistence”.
She assured the IDPs of government’s continued support via SEMA and in partnership with local, national, and international stakeholders.
