FIC Report (Benue State) – The Executive Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to protecting vulnerable populations and advancing durable solutions for internally displaced persons (IDPs) with the formal launch of the Benue State Contingency Plan for Emergency Response (2026–2028).
Represented by his Deputy, Sam Ode, the Governor received the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Mohammed Doro, and the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, during a joint field mission to Naka community in Gwer West.
The delegation commissioned a 500,000-litre-per-day water treatment facility and inspected newly constructed emergency shelters for displaced families.
Governor Alia described the Minister’s decision to begin his first joint field mission in Benue as a strong demonstration of federal solidarity.
He noted that the welfare, protection, and dignity of IDPs remain central to his administration’s agenda.
Citing data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Governor stated that Benue recorded nearly 500,000 displaced persons in 2023, largely due to farmer-herder conflicts.
He highlighted key interventions by the state government, including:
Formal recognition of informal IDP camps for improved planning and resource allocation
Strengthening security through the Bureau for Homeland Security in collaboration with security agencies
Development of a Durable Solutions Action Plan and a comprehensive IDP policy framework
Despite funding cuts from the United States, the Governor acknowledged sustained humanitarian support from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), which has enabled life-saving interventions in Guma and Gwer West LGAs.
In Gwer West, the newly commissioned water facility will serve approximately 35,000 beneficiaries, while nearly 530 shelters in Naka are ready for handover out of 1,000 currently under construction. The Governor also announced the launch of newly established data rooms donated by IOM and formally declared the 2026–2028 Contingency Plan open.
EU Reaffirms Solidarity
EU Ambassador Gautier Mignot described the visit as a follow-up to humanitarian support extended after the Yelewata attack. He explained that EU funding through ECHO is targeting over 33,000 beneficiaries with multi-purpose cash assistance, rehabilitation of the Naka water facility, and construction of nearly 964 shelters, 600 of which were commissioned during the visit.
He commended the Benue State Government for co-funding the interventions and reaffirmed the EU’s solidarity with Benue and Nigeria. Beyond emergency response, he disclosed that the EU is supporting durable solutions, strengthening the National Social Register, and collaborating with the French Development Agency on technical and vocational training programmes in agriculture, with Benue among the focus states.
Federal Government: From Emergency to Recovery
Minister Bernard Mohammed Doro described Benue as reflecting both the scale of Nigeria’s humanitarian challenges and the opportunity to transition from emergency response to long-term recovery.
He commended the state government’s investments in water, shelter, security, and coordination, while reaffirming federal commitment to stronger policy leadership, improved coordination, and linking humanitarian action with recovery and development.
The Minister also acknowledged the EU’s continued support and described IOM as a strategic partner in data-driven planning, displacement tracking, and durable solutions. He stressed that displacement must be addressed alongside security, livelihoods, social protection, and access to basic services.
IOM: Displacement a Development Priority
In her remarks, the IOM Chief of Mission in Nigeria, Dimanche Sharon, revealed that over 464,000 persons are currently displaced in Benue, making it the second-largest host state after Borno and accounting for nearly 80 percent of IDPs in the North Central region.
She noted that about 143,000 displaced persons have expressed willingness to return home but remain hindered by insecurity and lack of services. Additionally, 70 percent report limited access to clean water, while nearly 80 percent face food insecurity.
She emphasized that displacement is not only a humanitarian concern but also a development priority, calling for sustained collaboration to move beyond short-term relief toward safe, dignified, and durable solutions.
The joint visit to Naka underscores strengthened collaboration between the Benue State Government, the Federal Government, the European Union, and IOM in aligning immediate humanitarian assistance with long-term recovery, peacebuilding, and resilience for displaced families across the state.
Signed
IRENE IVEREN ONEHI
Head of Center FIC Makurdi
