By Emmanuel Antswen
The Benue Government has begun the implementation of its State Action Plan or durable solutions by strengthening the implementation framework for proper coordination.
Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Mr Anodowase Kunde, stated this at the opening ceremony of a 5-day workshop in Makurdi.
The workshop is organised by the ministry/Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Kunde explained that the State Action Plan, or Durable Solutions, launched earlier this year by the Governor, was a bold and comprehensive roadmap to return IDPs safely to their homes.
He said that the plan envisioned a future where over 500,000 displaced persons can safely return to their ancestral homes, rebuild their lives, and thrive without the need for further humanitarian assistance.
He said the workshop brings together the technical expertise of the United Nations Development Programme, the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Sustainable Development Goals and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management.
“Let me emphasise: durable solutions are not events; they are processes.
They require sustained commitment, inclusive planning, and adaptive leadership.
“They demand that we listen to affected communities, respect their choices, and build systems that support long-term recovery.
“The future of our displaced citizens depends on the decisions we make and the partnerships we forge here.
“Together, let us transform displacement into opportunity. Let us build a Benue where every citizen, regardless of their past, can look forward to a secure, dignified, and prosperous future,” he said.
Mr John Akuse, Director General (DG), Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), said the objective of the workshop was to develop practical implementation and monitoring tools for the State Action Plan.
Akuse commended the State Government, United Nations agencies and civil society organisations for their roles in ensuring that the displaced populations in the state are resettled.
In his goodwill message, the representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Adewole Oke, pledged total support of all UN agencies to the implementation of the State Action Plan on resettlement of IDPs.
