The Plateau State Government has begun the disbursement of N1 billion cash intervention to 1,579 victims of terrorist attacks across five Local Government Areas of the state.
The intervention, complemented by an additional N500 million from the Plateau State Government, brought the total humanitarian assistance disbursed to affected families and communities to N1.5 billion.
The disbursement ceremony, held in Jos, the state capital, was overseen by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, and Governor Caleb Mutfwang.
Speaking at the ceremony, Yilwatda acknowledged the significance of the First Lady’s intervention, particularly for people who had experienced displacement and loss.
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The APC National Chairman recalled his personal experience as a victim of unrest in Plateau State, noting that the assistance could not restore lives that had been lost but could provide an important foundation for affected families to rebuild.
“I have been a victim of unrest, I know how it feels. I lost friends, I lost neighbours, I lost relations in a crisis. So I know how it feels, and when I look into your faces, I can see your pains,” Yilwatda explained
Yilwatda expressed appreciation to Senator Tinubu for responding to the plight of affected communities and providing financial assistance at a time when many families were struggling to recover from the consequences of the unrest.
“I want to thank the First Lady of Nigeria for coming through for us. She has said that she has heard our voices. She has heard your cry,” he said.
The APC National Chairman urged the beneficiaries to regard the intervention as seed capital for rebuilding their livelihoods, encouraging them to invest in farming, petty trading, groceries and other sustainable economic activities.
“The little you have, you can invest it and build new lives. You can do grocery, farming, join cooperative societies and make the best use of the resources.” Yilwatda stressed.
Governor Mutfwang commended the First Lady for the N1 billion donation, describing the intervention as an expression of compassion towards families whose lives had been permanently altered by violence.
“Families lost their loved ones. Many houses were destroyed. People were forced to leave places they called home. I acknowledge that financial assistance cannot compensate victims for the loss of family members or completely address the psychological and emotional trauma caused by the attacks. The significance of the intervention lies in its ability to provide immediate relief and give families an opportunity to begin rebuilding.” Mutfwang said.
The governor said the state government would continue working towards creating conditions that would enable displaced persons to safely return to their ancestral homes.
Mutfwang also gave assurance that the government was committed to ensuring that the intervention reached people genuinely affected by the unrest.
“We are committed that this intervention gets to those affected, we urge beneficiaries and stakeholders to approach the distribution process with patience, honesty and understanding.”
Explaining the origin and purpose of the intervention, the Plateau State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Kachollom Pyam Gang, said the N1 billion provided through Senator Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Initiative was specifically targeted at vulnerable families affected by displacement and violent attacks.
Gang explained that the First Lady’s intervention was intended to help affected residents rebuild shelters, restore livelihoods and regain a measure of stability and dignity.
The commissioner disclosed that the state government had previously established an inter-ministerial committee to identify people displaced by the attacks.
She explained that the committee was created before the establishment of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, with the aim of ensuring that the identification of victims was conducted transparently and fairly.
The beneficiaries, drawn from communities in Bassa, Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, Mangu and Riyom Local Government Areas, are expected to receive N500,000 each.
