FIC Report (Benue State) – The humanitarian intervention of the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, under her Renewed Hope Initiative, on Thursday, 19th December 2025, translated into massive relief for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Benue State as the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Deaconess Serumun Deborah Aber, Esq., flagged off the distribution of food and non-food items across the state.
The ₦1.275 billion intervention, implemented in collaboration with the Nasarawa State Government, United Bank for Africa (UBA) and the Department of State Services (DSS), is being executed in Benue State through the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA), under the coordination of the state government.
Speaking at the event on behalf of the SSG, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hon. Aondowase Kunde, said the intervention, which was initially designed to support victims of the Yelewata attack, has been expanded to reach other IDP camps and host communities across Benue State. He noted that the distribution, coming during the 2025 Christmas season, reflects the compassion and people-centred leadership of the First Lady of Nigeria.
Hon. Kunde explained that the intervention covers critical sectors including food and non-food item distribution, resettlement through ongoing cluster housing construction in Yelewata, conditional cash transfers to 1,000 beneficiaries, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) projects—with three boreholes already drilled in Yelewata—as well as agricultural and educational support.
He stated that the items distributed were drawn from the Food and Nutrition Component of the First Lady’s Renewed Hope Initiative, which complements the humanitarian vision of Governor Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia in addressing displacement, insecurity, and human suffering in the state.
The SSG further disclosed that the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA), led by Sir James Aondoakaa Iorpuu, PhD, has played a central role in ensuring transparency, accountability, and effective coordination of the intervention, working closely with the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, international partners including IOM and UNHCR, Civil Society Organisations, and the organised press.
Relief materials distributed include food items such as rice, maize, beans, garri, vegetable oil, sugar, condiments and Tom Brown, as well as non-food items including mattresses, blankets, toiletries, detergents, sanitary pads, kitchen utensils, clothing and other household essentials.
The SSG expressed deep appreciation to the First Lady of Nigeria for her sustained commitment to displaced and vulnerable populations, as well as to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, whose donations of food and non-food items further strengthened Benue State’s humanitarian response.
She noted that beyond emergency relief, the intervention has enhanced nutrition for children, pregnant women and nursing mothers, improved camp-level services, and supported long-term solutions, including the ongoing construction of a large-scale water treatment plant in Naka, Gwer-West Local Government Area, which will serve both IDPs and host communities.
Reaffirming the commitment of the Alia administration, the SSG stressed that Benue State remains focused on transitioning from emergency response to durable solutions, including resettlement, livelihood restoration, and access to basic services.
Addressing the IDPs, she assured them that they remain a priority of government, adding that sustained interventions will continue through BSEMA and other partners.
She urged all stakeholders to uphold the principles of fairness, transparency and cooperation to ensure that the relief items reach the intended beneficiaries.
Giving a breakdown of the items distributed, the Permanent Secretary and Executive Secretary of BSEMA, Sir James Aondoakaa Iorpuu, PhD, listed 7,500 bags of 25kg rice; 1,600 bags of beans; 800 bags of maize; 1,300 bags of garri; 1,000 cartons of Tom Brown; 900 cartons of noodles; 200 cartons each of sugar and seasoning; 140 20-litre gallons of groundnut oil; 50 gallons of red oil; 500 mattresses; six bales each of children’s clothing and blankets, alongside detergents, soap, sanitary pads, tissue paper, utensils and other essentials.
Sir Iorpuu explained that items meant for communities without IDP camps would be distributed through traditional institutions, in consultation with political stakeholders, while affected local government areas include Kwande, Agatu, Apa, Otukpo, Ukum and Gwer-West.
On behalf of the Benue State Government and the IDPs, the SSG expressed profound gratitude to Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the Nasarawa State Government, UBA, DSS, BSEMA, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and all humanitarian partners for standing with Benue State in its time of need.
Signed
VERONICA AZEMBA
For Head of Center FIC Makurdi
