By Amos Aar
THE BENUE State Government on Friday flagged off the distribution of food and non-food items (NFIs) to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Makurdi, with officials disclosing that the relief materials were sourced from the humanitarian intervention of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the Nasarawa State Government, United Bank for Africa (UBA), the Department of State Services (DSS) and other partners.
The exercise, held at the headquarters of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA), was part of the N1.275 billion humanitarian intervention coordinated under the Renewed Hope Agenda of the First Lady of Nigeria, in collaboration with the Nasarawa State Government, UBA and the DSS, and extended to IDP camps and host communities across the state.
Speaking at the flag-off on behalf of Governor Hyacinth Alia, the Secretary to the State Government, Deborah Aber, Esq., represented by the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hon. Aondowase Kunde, explained that the items distributed were largely drawn from the food and nutrition component of the First Lady’s intervention, complemented by additional contributions from the state government and partners.
He said the distribution was part of the humanitarian activities already ongoing in the state, including resettlement through the construction of cluster housing in Yelewata, conditional cash transfers to 1,000 beneficiaries across IDP camps and host communities, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) projects, agricultural support and education interventions. According to him, three boreholes have already been drilled in Yelewata under the WASH programme.
The governor further disclosed that beyond emergency relief, the state government, in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), has commenced the construction of a large-scale water treatment plant in Naka, Gwer West Local Government Area, to provide sustainable access to clean water for IDPs and surrounding communities.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management and BSEMA, Dr James Aondoakaa Iorpuu, said the distribution, which coincided with the 2025 Christmas season, was designed to ensure that displaced families could celebrate the yuletide with dignity. He assured that the process would be transparent and that all items would reach the intended beneficiaries.
Items distributed included over 7,000 bags of 25kg rice, 1,000 bags of 25kg beans, garri, vegetable oil, red oil, noodles and assorted condiments, as well as non-food items such as blankets, mats, toiletries and other essential household materials.
Governor Alia commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the Nasarawa State Government, UBA, the DSS, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and other local and international partners, including UNHCR and civil society organisations, for their support, noting that the collaborations have significantly eased the burden on displaced persons and reinforced the state’s commitment to protecting the welfare, safety and dignity of vulnerable populations.
