The Federal Government (FG) on Friday trained and distributed farm inputs and medications to Internally Displaced Persons in Benue.
Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, said that the initiative was to ameliorate the sufferings of the IDPs and to also empower them to venture into agriculture.
Yilwatda, who was represented by Mr Ogochukwu Okeke, said that the intervention was based on a needs assessment conducted by the ministry.
The minister restated the federal government’s determination to ameliorate the sufferings of the vulnerable groups.
Gov. Hyacinth Alia of Benue appreciated the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government for its commitment to addressing the challenges of the vulnerable groups in the country.
Alia, who was represented by the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Mr Aondowase Kunde, said that the items would be judiciously utilised.
He said the state government has already adopted a durable solutions strategy to address displacement, foster security, and strengthen resilience across Benue.
He explained that it was necessary for the state to have an action plan on how the displaced persons would be returned and the roles each stakeholder would play during the process.
According to him, all these were geared towards the safe return of IDPs to their ancestral homes because when they were chased away, they took nothing with them in the process.
He said 10 selected IDPs each from Guma, Logo, Makurdi, Agatu, and Gwer West would benefit from the farm inputs.
Dr Donald Akule, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Benue State Agricultural Company, trained the IDPs on basic farming techniques.
Akule said the beneficiaries were also trained on how to apply the farm inputs correctly for an improved harvest.
Earlier, Mr Maurice Orwough, Chairman of Guma Local Government and Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) Benue chapter, commended the FG for distributing the farm inputs to the IDPs.
Orwough further appealed to the FG to also ensure that other affected LGs in the state also benefit from the exercise. (NAN)
