July 26, (THEWILL) – The United Nations has decried the deplorable conditions of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Benue state, describing it as worse than that of the situation in Borno state.
The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr Matthias Schmale, who made the disclosure while exchanging views with Benue state governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, at the Government House, Makurdi, on Wednesday, noted that through collaboration, a lot could be achieved in reversing the situation.
Mr Schmale, therefore, charged Governor Alia to outline the government’s expectations and Humanitarian needs to the UN for consideration.
He commended the keenness of Alia in working with the UN to return the IDPs to their ancestral homes and appealed to the Benue people to treat the governor as a human and not see him as a supernatural being, who can perform miracles in government.
Responding, Governor Hyacinth Alia acknowledged the tireless and sustained efforts of the United Nations in maintaining global peace and security.
The governor said in a world plagued by conflicts and turmoil, the United Nations has consistently demonstrated its unwavering commitment to resolving disputes through peaceful means.
According to him, through its peacekeeping missions, the UN has successfully prevented conflicts from escalating into full-blown wars, saving countless lives and fostering stability in regions plagued by violence.
Governor Alia noted that the United Nations has also been playing a pivotal role in promoting sustainable development and eradicating poverty.
“By advocating for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the world has witnessed a concerted effort to address pressing global challenges such as poverty, hunger, climate change, and inequality.
“The United Nations strives to ensure that no one is left behind. Every individual has equal access to education, healthcare, and opportunities for economic growth.”
According to the governor, the state government is looking forward to the United Nations for support in implementing comprehensive security initiatives, such as community policing programs, early warning systems, and conflict resolution mechanisms.
“My administration on assumption of office encountered an enormous humanitarian crisis occasioned by various forms of conflicts and Natural disasters, which has left us with internally displaced persons covering 37,412 households with a total population of 2,124,000.
“The strong resolve of my administration is to stem this tide and seek assistance towards ensuring that the IDPs are resettled and reintegrated into their ancestral homes.
“This requires establishing permanent integrated forward operation bases for security men at all flash points, where there have been cases of incessant armed attacks and displacement of people.
He added that security remains a pressing concern in the state, particularly in relation to herder-farmer conflicts; stating the government is committed to finding lasting solutions to these disputes and fostering peaceful coexistence among all residents.
