The Federal Government, the Benue State Government and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have agreed on a coordinated intervention to deliver urgent life-saving and protection support to communities affected by violence and displacement in Benue State.
The agreement was formalised following a meeting witnessed by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro, during which letters were exchanged between the Governor of Benue State, Hyacinth Iormem Alia, and UNHCR’s Country Representative in Nigeria, Arjun Jain.
The initiative, supported through the Nigerian Humanitarian Fund, is expected to directly benefit about 100,000 people in Guma and Makurdi Local Government Areas, with many more indirectly supported through improved protection systems and preventive security measures.
Speaking on the partnership, the Minister said the intervention reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting Nigerians affected by conflict and displacement.
According to him, the collaboration will ensure that vulnerable families receive urgent assistance while advancing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at restoring safety, dignity and stability to affected communities.
He added that the intervention will focus on three priority areas, including the provision of protection-based life-saving assistance for displaced populations, support for relocating families from camps to safer settlements, and the installation of solar-powered lighting systems to strengthen security in vulnerable communities.
The programme will also expand and digitise protection monitoring systems to enable real-time reporting, early identification of threats and integration into state and federal early-warning mechanisms.
Alia described the partnership as a critical step toward addressing the humanitarian crisis caused by persistent displacement in the state.
He noted that Benue has borne a heavy burden of forced displacement for years and stressed that the collaboration would help scale up immediate humanitarian relief while strengthening long-term systems to protect communities.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring that displaced families regain access to safety, recovery and opportunities for rebuilding their lives.
UNHCR Country Representative, Arjun Jain, also underscored the importance of strong government leadership and coordinated action in addressing humanitarian challenges.
He said the collaboration would allow partners to rapidly expand protection services and deliver assistance to families facing severe risks while laying the foundation for sustainable solutions.
Implementation of the joint intervention is expected to begin in April 2026.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
