Benue Humanitarian Agency seeks stronger collaboration for lasting solutions to displacement

The Permanent Secretary of the Benue State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Sir James Iorpuu, has called for enhanced collaboration among humanitarian stakeholders to effectively tackle the persistent challenges faced by displaced populations in Benue State and the North Central region.

Iorpuu made the appeal during a strategic meeting with consultants developing Nigeria’s National Strategy on Durable Solutions for Internal Displacement. The session also included representatives from the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The visit, aimed at aligning Benue State’s ongoing humanitarian efforts with the national framework, also acknowledged Sir James Iorpuu’s role in championing sustainable interventions for internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Highlighting the state’s long-term approach to displacement, Iorpuu explained that Benue is shifting focus from emergency relief to livelihood empowerment. He noted that the current administration is prioritizing agriculture as a tool for economic recovery and integration of IDPs.

“We are empowering IDPs through agricultural support, providing farm inputs, and helping them become active participants in local economic activities,” he stated.

He further revealed that over 200 cooperative societies have been formed among the displaced communities, and about 280 hectares of land have been secured to support various agricultural projects geared towards self-reliance.

In their remarks, NCFRMI consultant Mubarak Yusuf and UNDP representative Emmanuel Aisiku commended BSEMA for its proactive approach, pledging full alignment of the state’s Durable Solutions Plan with the national strategy.

Bashir A. Yusuf, Zonal Coordinator for NCFRMI in the North Central zone, also assured of continued collaboration to ensure that sustainable solutions are achieved for displaced persons in the region.