More Traditional Rulers Accepts Gov Alia’s Resettlement Plan
By Bridget Ikyado
Heads of three more Area Traditional Councils in Benue State are in agreement with the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) resettlement plan of Benue State Governor, Fr. Hyacinth Alia. Ter Guma, Ter Tyôshin, Ad’Agatu, have given their node to donate land for the building of low cost cluster homes the IDPs.
Thousands of local farmers displaced by attacks from arm wing of cattlemen owners are living in IDPs camps and IDPs host communities for over 13 years now and Governor Alia promised to resettle them once elected governor. Last week, Mue Ter Ichôngo, Kwande Area Traditional Council and Mue Ter Ichôngo, Logo Area Traditional Council donated land for the housing scheme, when a delegation from the federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and their Benue State counterparts visited the two Benue North East Local Government Areas.
The donation of land in Guma, Gwer West and Agatu has brought the number of LGAs that have accepted the plan to five, representing five LGAs of six LGAs that are contending with IDPs population. Although Guma, Gwer West and Agatu will revert on specific location, their traditional head, Ad’Agatu, His Royal Highness (HRH) Onah Ngbede, Ter Guma, HRH Dennis Shemberga and Ter Tyôshin HRH, Daniel Abomtse, all said they have no hesitation to donating land.
While commending “His Excellency, our governor, the God’s servant who has come to redeem the people of Benue,” HRH Abomtse expressed gratitude “to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for listening to the cry of the governor of Benue State, Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia to resettle the IDPs.”
He assured that his council will work to ensure the success of the scheme. “I do not hesitate to donate a chunk of land for the building of low cost housing for the IDPs. This decision was taken in 2020 when I wrote donating the forest reserve which is close to the evil axis,” HRH Abomtse said, while expressing concern about the future of IDPs children who are not going to school.
Both Ter Guma and Ad’Agadu will consult in council and donate land for the project to commence.
According to representative of the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and National Programme Manager, Renewed Hope Shelter for the Poor, Refugees and IDPs, Chidimma Makuachukwu, president Tinubu is concerned about the plight of the IDPs.
She explained that “the renewed hope shelter is one of the many programmes under the ministry of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation by the Tinubu administration to “bring hope to the people.”
She says the shelter is one aspect of the many poverty alleviation programmes of the present administration and that putting the displaced in clusters would help the government to attend to them better.
Aondowase Kunde, Benue State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, says construction work will commence next month.
He adds that it has become necessary to have cluster settlements as it would enhance provision of security and social amenities.
The commissioner therefore, called for support for the governor’s resettlement plan.