News Editor
From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi
The Federal Government has distributed food and nutrition support items to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and community members affected by conflict in Benue state.
The distribution is carried out under the Presidential Initiative for Food and Nutrition Assistance.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Doro, who addressed a crowd of Benue residents at the IBB Square in Makurdi, said the gesture was a demonstration of the Federal Government’s firm resolve to stand with communities affected by displacement, insecurity, communal conflicts, and livelihood disruptions.
Doro noted painfully that Benue State, proudly known as the “Food Basket of the Nation,” has faced considerable humanitarian pressures in recent years arising from armed violence, farmer and herder conflicts, displacement, and destruction of farmlands which have weakened agricultural productivity, disrupted food systems, and placed enormous strain on households, especially women, children, the elderly, persons with disabilities,
and IDPs.
He assured that the Federal Government remains resolute and will neither allow humanitarian gaps to widen, nor abandon vulnerable citizens in their time of need.
He said the intervention, therefore, is designed not only to cushion the immediate effects of displacement and food insecurity, but also to serve as an entry point into something much bigger and more transformative.
He said the ministry under his leadership is driving a flagship reform initiative known as the One Humanitarian–One Poverty Response System (OHOPRS), an initiative to ensure that affected populations must not receive only one-off support.
“It means that families receiving food and nutrition support today should not return to
vulnerability tomorrow. Instead, they must be linked to national social protection
interventions, conditional cash transfers, livelihood support programmes, skills development initiatives, micro-enterprise support, and other poverty-exit mechanisms that restore self dignity.
Responding, the Benue State Governor Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, represented by his Deputy, Sam Ode, expressed appreciation to the federal government saying the intervention was coming at a very critical time for the state.
Alia lamented that large-scale internal displacement across multiple LGAs; destruction of farmlands and reduced agricultural productivity, increased cases of malnutrition among children and pregnant women; heightened poverty levels and loss of household incomes; overcrowded IDP camps have placed strains on basic services such as water, sanitation, healthcare, and education.
He said the Presidential Initiative demonstrates strong political will and national solidarity and reflects the unwavering commitment of the Federal Government to ensure that no Nigerian goes to bed hungry, particularly in conflict-affected and high-risk communities.
He expressed deeply grateful for the compassion, leadership, and unwavering resolve of the federal government to stand with Benue in our hour of need.
Decsribing the items as a lifeline for thousands of vulnerable households, the Governor said his administration has put in place mechanisms to ensure transparency, accountability, and equitable distribution to targeted beneficiaries, especially IDPs, widows, orphaned children, and low-income households in severely affected communities.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya, said the intervention provides immediate food and nutrition support to households affected by displacement and other humanitarian shocks.
He noted that the program is implemented under the Presidential Initiative for Emergency Food and Nutrition Support as part of the reform priorities of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and emphasizes data-driven targeting, expansion of the social register, improved transparency, and effective last-mile delivery to ensure assistance reaches those most in need.
Olusanya said the Federal Government is working closely with the Benue State Government and partners to strengthen humanitarian coordination, improve support to displaced and host communities, and advance durable solutions that promote recovery, stability, and resilience.
Some of the beneficiaries, Mary Ahuna and Kpadoo Lubem appreciated the federal government for the gesture. Ahuna who noted it was the first time she was receiving such huge donation prayed God to give the leaders the wisdom and will to continue to reach out to the people in need.
The Mega IDP camp manager, Jude Aondohemba appreciated the federal government saying over 600 persons from his camp benefited from the donation. Each household received a 25kg bag of rice, bean and garri, 4liter gallon of red oil and 6liter gallon of ground oil.
