Benue IDPs: Humanitarian Ministry, SDGs, UNDP Hold Strategic Dialogue on Durable Solutions

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, in collaboration with the Benue Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) office, has organized a five-day Action-Oriented Learning and Strategic Dialogue on Durable Solutions in Benue State.

The workshop, supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), aims to strengthen the implementation of the State Action Plan (SAP) and ensure alignment with the integrated durable solutions framework for the resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state.

Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Aondowase Kunde, noted that Benue State has long borne the burden of displacement resulting from conflict, climate change, and communal unrest.

Describing the engagement as both a strategic dialogue and a collaborative design lab, Kunde said it would serve as a launchpad for coordinated action among Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), ensuring that all stakeholders clearly understand their roles in implementing the Benue State Action Plan.

He reaffirmed Governor Hyacinth Alia’s commitment to the safe return of all IDPs in the state and revealed that one of the workshop’s key outcomes would be the establishment and validation of a State Task Force on Durable Solutions with defined Terms of Reference and a strong coordination framework.

In his goodwill message, UNDP’s Crisis and Durable Solutions Officer, Adewole Oke, said the meeting marked a transition from discussions to deliberate action — from planning to implementation, and from words to tangible efforts in rebuilding lives.

Oke commended the unwavering dedication of the state’s Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, the Benue SDGs office, and other partners in advancing an integrated framework for durable solutions for IDPs. He reaffirmed UNDP’s continued partnership and support for the initiative.

“When we talk about durable solutions, we are talking about people — families who have endured years of displacement, communities that have balanced hospitality with hardship, and a state that has chosen not to look away but to lead,” Oke said.

He described Benue as “a beacon of commitment” in Nigeria’s pursuit of durable solutions, noting that the state had demonstrated exceptional resolve by turning policy commitments into practical action.

“Today, we at UNDP, and indeed the entire UN family, extend our heartfelt kudos to the Honourable Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, whose leadership and coordination have transformed an idea into a living framework of hope,” Oke added.

He emphasized that Benue’s durable solutions initiative is vital to achieving the SDGs and assured displaced communities that their resilience and experiences will continue to guide the transition “from relief to recovery, and from recovery to renewal.”

The Director General of Benue State SDGs, John Akuse, appreciated all participants and partners for their continued efforts in supporting vulnerable groups across the state and encouraged them to sustain the momentum until the collective vision of durable solutions is fully realized.