Nigerian government begins Construction Of Homes for Benue displaced persons

The displaced people of Benue State in North Central Nigeria who left their homes in the wake of clashes between pastoral farmers and crop farmers are set for a ceremonial return to their ancestral homes.

This follows the foundation laying ceremony for the construction of cluster resettlement homes for the Internally Displaced Persons, (IDPs) held at Tatyough Village in Mbalagh Council Ward of Makurdi Local Government Area by the Federal Government of Nigeria in collaboration with the Government of Benue State.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu who laid the foundation for the construction of the cluster homes decried the humanitarian situation in Benue State, pointing out that hope has finally come to the displaced people who have suffered untold hardship for the past 10 years since the clashes began.

Dr. Edu said the construction of the low cost houses was the beginning of the journey for the return home of the IDPs, adding that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was looking up to Benue State to achieve the Renewed Hope Agenda for food security policy of his administration.

She explained that the National Renewed Hope Shelter Program for the Poor, Internally Displaced Persons and Refugees “is a project initiated to provide economic benefits to the locals since they will constitute the total manpower requirement and also sell the locally available materials throughout the 6 months duration of the project.”

She thanked the Benue State Government and the traditional institution in the state for making land available for the construction of the low cost houses in the proposed settlement areas.

On his part, Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for taking urgent measures to address the plight of the displaced persons in the State.

Governor Alia also thanked the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu and her Ministry for opening a humanitarian corridor for the return of the displaced people to their ancestral lands.

The Governor described the foundation laying ceremony as “the first significant step taken by the Federal Government to ensure the return of peace and resettlement of the IDPs” which he said the people of Benue State would never forget.

Governor Alia appreciated the Makurdi Local Government Area Traditional Council for donating land for the project and pledged the commitment of his administration to the welfare of all the displaced persons taking shelter in various Camps across the state.

He called on the IDPs to “remain steadfast in the state of their unfortunate conditions trusting in the unwavering commitment of the present administration to bringing peace in the state and returning them to their ancestral homes.”

In separate remarks, the Assembly Member for Makurdi North Constituency, Hon. Alfred Berger, State Commissioner for Humanitarian and Disaster Management, Aondowase Kunde, the Paramount Ruler of Makurdi, Chief Vincent Aule and the Leader of Tatyough Community, Chief Henry Hansezanyi Asera, profoundly appreciated both the State and Federal Government for the joint efforts to resettle the IDPs back to their lands.