Respite As Benue Chiefs Allocate Land For Resettlement of IDPs

By George Kajo, Makurdi.

Traditional rulers in Kwande and Logo Local Government Areas of Benue State have donated land for construction of shelter for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

The development follows joint visit by officials of the Renewed Hope Shelter for the Poor, Refugees and IDPs and officials of the Benue State Government.

Benue State Governor, Fr. Hyacinth Alia, had promised during campaigns that he will ensure resettlement of IDPs once elected as governor.

Just few days ago, the governor met President Bola Tinubu, during which he briefed him about state of affairs in his state, including the resettlement plan by his administration.

Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management in the state, Aondowase Kunde, says the joint visit to Kwande and Logo LGAs is a demonstration of the commitment of President Tinubu, to supporting the resettlement plan of the Benue State Government.

He urged traditional rulers in the affected areas to give maximum cooperation and donate land to develop shelter for IDPs, emphasising that returning the people back to their ancestral homes is a process and providing shelter is a top most priority.

In Kwande local government area, four council wards are affected while five are affected in Logo Local Government.

Large expanse of land was donated in Kwande at Waya and Anyiase for the resettlement plan while in Logo, land was allocated at Azera and Anyiin.

The Mue Ter Ichôngo in the Kwande Area Traditional Council, His Royal Highness, Chief Simon Baver and Mue Ter Ipusu in the Logo Area Traditional Council, His Royal Highness, Chief Enoch Iorhuna, all said, they welcome the plan to resettle their displaced subjects.

According to them, they have been looking forward to when the people displaced due to attacks by armed wing of cattle owners will go home.

They also commended Governor Hyacinth Alia for working toward actualising his campaign promise.

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, informed the chiefs that the visit was to identify areas where shelter will be provided for the displaced.

She noted that the president is concerned about the plight of the IDPs and provision of shelter is the first step among other majors put in place by the Tinubu administration to impact the people of need.

According to Chidimma, 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 facility for education, clinic, electricity and market.

While commending Governor Alia for recognising the need to resettle the IDPs, Chidimma thanked the chiefs for allocating land for the project, assuring that sooner than later, actual construction work will commence at the designated sites.

Meanwhile the Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), James Iorapuu, says his agency in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), has commenced biometric verification of IDPs, for ease of allocation of homes.