Benue Govt, IOM Strengthen Partnership for IDP Resettlement, Livelihood Support

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

The Benue State Government has called for stronger partnerships with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and other humanitarian organisations to promote sustainable resettlement, livelihood opportunities and improved living conditions for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the state.

The Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Deborah Aber, made the call while delivering a goodwill message on behalf of Governor Hyacinth Alia at the commemoration of the 25th anniversary of IOM Nigeria, themed, “Celebrating 25 Years of Humanitarian Service, Partnership, and Impact in Nigeria.”

Aber said the state government recognised IOM’s contributions to addressing migration-related challenges, supporting displaced persons, strengthening community resilience and promoting durable solutions for vulnerable populations affected by insecurity and other humanitarian emergencies.

She said the Alia administration remained committed to restoring peace, rebuilding affected communities and creating conditions for displaced persons to return to safe and dignified living. She stressed that humanitarian assistance must extend beyond emergency relief to include sustainable resettlement, access to essential services and livelihood opportunities.
Aber particularly welcomed IOM’s commemorative tree-planting exercise at the Yelewata Resettlement Housing Site, describing it as a symbol of renewal, environmental sustainability and collective determination to rebuild affected communities.

She urged the Federal and State Governments, United Nations agencies, development partners, civil society organisations and host communities to strengthen collaboration in addressing humanitarian challenges, with particular attention to women, children, older persons, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.

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The SSG congratulated IOM Nigeria on its 25th anniversary and commended its leadership, personnel and partners for their commitment to protecting human dignity and supporting vulnerable populations.

She expressed the state government’s readiness to deepen cooperation with the organisation in promoting safe and dignified migration, advancing durable solutions for displaced persons and supporting the recovery and development of affected communities across Benue State.

Speaking during the event, the Officer-in-Charge of IOM’s Benue Sub-office, Mr Francis Ukonu, said IOM had supported thousands of displaced families across Benue State through shelter assistance, protection services, water and sanitation interventions, livelihood support and other humanitarian programmes since the state began facing major displacement challenges in 2018.
Ukonu noted that the organisation’s partnership with the Benue State Government and other humanitarian stakeholders had helped affected communities navigate displacement, insecurity, recurrent flooding and climate-related shocks.

He said IOM’s interventions had reached communities including Daudu, Abagena, Yelewata, Ortese, Gbajimba, Ichwa, Uikpam, Agagbe and Naka, as well as displaced families living at the Mbayongo Mega Camp and other displacement locations across the state.
He explained that the organisation had worked with the state government, donor partners, local authorities, traditional institutions and community leaders to provide shelter, protection, camp coordination and management, water, sanitation and hygiene services, livelihood interventions and flood response assistance.

Its Displacement Tracking Matrix also provides data to guide humanitarian planning and response.

Ukonu described the completed conference hall where the anniversary was held as a lasting symbol of cooperation between IOM and the Benue State Government. He recalled that the foundation stone was laid by IOM’s former Chief of Mission, Laurent De Boeck, alongside state authorities.

He said the facility represented an investment in the state’s capacity to coordinate humanitarian interventions and respond to emergencies, adding that the partnership’s achievements should be measured not only by infrastructure and projects delivered but also by the hope restored to vulnerable families.

However, the IOM official said significant humanitarian needs remained in communities across Agatu, Apa, Ohimini, Otukpo, Kwande, Ukum, Logo and Katsina-Ala, where families continued to face displacement, climate shocks, livelihood difficulties and limited access to essential services.

He called for renewed commitment among government institutions, humanitarian agencies, donors, traditional leaders and community stakeholders to expand interventions, reach underserved populations and ensure that no community was left behind.

Ukonu also paid tribute to past and present IOM personnel for their dedication to humanitarian service, urging stakeholders to build on the organisation’s 25-year presence in Nigeria to promote dignity, peace, resilience and sustainable recovery.

Also speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Sir James Iorpuu, commended IOM for its contributions to the identification, resettlement and empowerment of IDPs in Benue State.

Iorpuu said the organisation’s interventions had extended beyond emergency relief to include recovery, resilience, social inclusion and the restoration of human dignity among displaced populations.

He identified the biometric enumeration of IDPs across all 17 local government areas of Benue as one of IOM’s significant contributions, among others.
The SEMA chief also highlighted IOM’s support for the relocation and resettlement of displaced persons from Ichwa, Baka and NEPA camps to the Mega IDP Camp, as well as resettlement initiatives in Gbajimba and Naka.

He said the interventions had provided affected families with opportunities to rebuild their lives in safer and more dignified environments.

Iorpuu said the organisation had also supported the provision of large-scale water treatment facilities for displaced populations in Ortese and Naka, helping to address water, sanitation and hygiene needs and improve public health.

According to him, the organisation’s interventions also cover shelter and settlement support, displacement tracking, protection, community engagement, disaster risk reduction, capacity-building and durable solutions for affected populations.

Iorpuu said IOM’s collaboration with the Benue State Government, SEMA, the National Emergency Management Agency, United Nations agencies, non-governmental organisations and development partners had strengthened information-sharing, joint planning and coordination of humanitarian responses.

He described the establishment of an IOM sub-office in Benue, with operational coverage extending to Benue, Plateau, Taraba and Kogi states, as a significant milestone that had brought humanitarian expertise closer to affected communities and strengthened engagement with government institutions.

The SEMA boss also acknowledged the contributions of Chief Mrs Mediatrice Barengayabo, also known as Dooshima Tyoshin, the pioneer head of the IOM Sub-office in Benue, for her leadership in strengthening humanitarian partnerships and improving support for displaced persons.

Iorpuu urged IOM Nigeria to sustain its commitment to humanitarian service, durable solutions and sustainable development, stressing that the success of humanitarian interventions should be measured by the lives restored, dignity protected and hope renewed among vulnerable populations.