Dr. Betta Edu, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, laid the foundation for the development of cluster settlements for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Benue State on Thursday.
On Wednesday, the minister came to the state for a two-day visit and foundation laying ceremony for the construction of houses for the IDPs in the state.
The minister assured the people of the state of President Bola Tinubu’s resolve to resettle the IDPs while unveiling the cluster community at Mbagwen in the state’s Makurdi Local Government Area.
Edu noted that President Bola Tinubu was concerned about the plight of the IDPs who have been displaced from their ancestral homes and he has plans to resettle them.
She said, “It is time for Benue people who have cried for too long to enjoy. This is the beginning of a journey to return home.
“President Tinubu had promised to work with Governor Hyacinth Alia to return the people home, and today is the beginning of the fulfilment of that promise.
Furthermore, the minister, who bemoaned the pain of the IDPs said, “You cannot reduce the food basket of the nation to hunger; hope is here. You will occupy your places and provide food for the nation. You will return home in peace.
“The President does not want the people to live in shanties but in their homes where they can wake up and produce food for the nation. The people will build the houses themselves. This gives them the dignity to build their hone as well as empower them financially.”
Speaking at the foundation, the Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, said attacks on the people have been ongoing since 2010 and heightened in 2016.
He, however, praised Tinubu for keeping his pledge to return the IDPs to their ancestral homes and urged the people to be patient with the government.
