Federal government in conjunction with the Benue State government has commenced the process of rehabilitation, reconstruction and the resettlement of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Kwande and Logo local government areas.
A representative of the minister for humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation and national programme manager, Renewed Hope Shelter for the Poor, Refugees and IDPs, Chidimma Makuachukwu, disclosed this during a visit to the chiefs in some of the affected communities to identify areas where shelter will be provided for the displaced persons.
She said President Bola Tinubu is concerned about the plight of the IDPs and the provision of shelter is the first step among other measures put in place by his administration to impact the IDPs.
According to her, “the paramount thing at the moment is building homes for the displaced in a secured environment where it will be easier to provide them with facilities for education, clinic, electricity and market.”
Earlier, the Mue Ter Ichôngo in the Kwande Area Traditional Council, His Royal Highness Simon Baver and Mue Ter Ipusu in the Logo Area Traditional Council, His Royal Highness Enoch Iorhuna, respectively said they were in support of the plan to resettle their displaced persons.
In a statement by the chief press secretary to the governor, Tersoo Kula, he said following the joint visit by officials of the Renewed Hope Shelter for the Poor, Refugees and IDPs and officials of the Benue State government, both traditional rulers in Kwande and Logo donated lands for construction of shelter for IDPs.
According to him, the traditional rulers of both communities said, “We have been looking forward to when our displaced persons due to attacks by armed cattle owners will go home and here it is, we want to commend Governor Hyacinth Alia for working towards actualising his campaign promise.”
While commending Governor Alia for recognising the need to resettle the IDPs, Chidimma thanked the chiefs for allocating land for the project, with a promise that the actual construction work will soon commence at the designated sites.
Meanwhile the executive secretary, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Sir James Iorapuu, informed that his agency in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), has commenced biometric verification of IDPs, for ease of allocation of homes.