Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has announced plans to close some Benue IDP camps following improvements in security across parts of the state.
Alia disclosed this during a media interaction with the Renewed Hope Ambassadors Presidential Media Team, led by President Bola Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. The team was in Benue to inspect federal and state infrastructure projects across the state’s 23 local government areas.
According to the governor, improved security, aided by intervention from the Federal Government, has created conditions for some displaced residents to return to their communities. He said several returnees had already gone back to farming, while others had begun rebuilding their homes.
“We are already making some plans to close down some because the IDP occupants have voluntarily gone back to do their farming,” Alia said.
The governor recalled that 15 camps were established across Benue following attacks that forced residents from their communities.
He said the government was monitoring security developments through security agencies, traditional institutions and residents providing information from their communities. Alia, however, stressed that closing the Benue IDP camps would not simply mean sending displaced persons home. He said the priority was to ensure that returnees could remain safely in their communities without being forced to flee again.
The governor added that his administration was working with international partners, including the United Nations and the International Organisation for Migration, to develop sustainable solutions for displaced persons. He expressed optimism that continued security improvements would allow residents to rebuild their livelihoods and contribute to Benue’s agricultural economy.
Alia also highlighted infrastructure projects being undertaken by his administration, including the state’s emergency programme for road development. He said several urban and arterial roads had either been reconstructed or upgraded to improve connectivity and stimulate economic activities.
According to him, the government is also rehabilitating hundreds of local government primary schools that had suffered prolonged neglect. He disclosed that 9,700 teachers had been recruited for primary schools as part of efforts to strengthen basic education. The governor similarly said primary healthcare facilities had been revamped across the state.
He added that the state teaching hospital had undergone improvements that had attracted patients from neighbouring states, particularly because of the availability of specialists. Alia further disclosed that medical equipment procured through collaboration involving the United States government and subnational authorities was expected in Benue for distribution to primary healthcare centres across the state.
Speaking at a dinner hosted by the state government, Onanuga thanked Governor Alia and his deputy, Samuel Ode, for hosting the delegation. He said the media team was invited to Benue to witness infrastructure projects being implemented by both the Federal and state governments. Onanuga particularly commended the revival of facilities such as the Tarakum Mill, Otobi Water Works and the state brewery.
He described the projects as potential drivers of economic activity and employment in the state. The presidential spokesperson also praised the administration’s road projects, especially those linking remote communities that had previously faced security challenges.
He further acknowledged the payment of teachers’ salaries and inherited obligations to retirees, saying the projects and interventions would enable residents to better appreciate the impact of government programmes. With security conditions improving in some areas, the planned reduction of the Benue IDP camps could mark a significant step in the state’s efforts to restore displaced communities and rebuild livelihoods.
