Benue’s New IDP Policy: A Roadmap of Hope and Dignity for Displaced Persons

By Bridget Tikyaa

One of the key campaign pledges of Rev. Father Hyacinth Iormem Alia on his way to becoming the Governor of Benue State was addressing the security challenges of the state and helping internally displaced persons (IDPs), return to their feet and ancestral homes.

This promise was anchored on the realities of the debilitating conditions faced by displaced persons, people battered by insecurity, driven into penury, and trapped in abject poverty. Their lives were turned upside down by displacement, the horrors of “war,” and the hopelessness of not knowing where or how to begin again.

According to a report by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the population of IDPs affected by attacks from armed criminals, including herdsmen and local militias, has risen to over 500,182 in the state. In June 2025, the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA), announced the registration of an additional 18,592 IDPs in Gwer West Local Government Area. So far, records indicate that over 200,000 IDPs have returned home following state government initiatives.

It was therefore a significant milestone when, on September 30, 2025, the Benue State IDP Policy was unveiled by the Governor, fulfilling his pledge to resettle IDPs and address the humanitarian challenges confronting the state’s displaced population.

The policy was developed by the Benue State Government in partnership with Save the Children International. It builds on Governor Alia’s earlier efforts, which include launching a programme to facilitate the safe return of IDPs to their ancestral homes through a three-pronged approach: Return, Integration, and Resettlement.

The governor has also provided IDPs with access to land, subsidized farm inputs, and improved seedlings to boost agricultural productivity. He initiated the formation of 210 farmers’ cooperatives across all camps, benefiting more than 4,200 IDPs.

In addition, the government is constructing 3,000 housing units to shelter at least 16,000 IDPs and has completed a transit camp in Guma Local Government Area, which accommodates over 4,000 IDPs in dignified emergency shelters.

The government has also launched economic empowerment programmes for IDPs aimed at guaranteeing market access, stabilizing prices, and integrating beneficiaries into the wider value chain. The Benue Investment and Property Company (BIPC), has initiated entrepreneurship programmes designed to empower IDPs and refugees, targeting over 50,000 direct jobs and impacting more than 80,000 families.

Furthermore, the administration has promoted peacebuilding and community dialogues to foster reconciliation and encourage land donations from traditional rulers for farming and resettlement.

These efforts form part of the governor’s broader strategy to restore normalcy to conflict-affected areas and improve the living conditions of displaced persons across Benue State.

The launch of the IDP Policy anchored on constitutional obligations and international human rights frameworks, represents a renewed commitment to collective action involving government, partners, and displaced communities.

The Principal Special Assistant to the Governor on Legal Matters, Barr. Seember Wayo, described the new policy as a social contract and a roadmap of hope anchored on both national and international legal instruments, including the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement and the Kampala Convention.

“For decades, the people of Benue have borne the brunt of violent conflicts, farmer–herder crises, natural disasters, and other displacements that have torn families apart and placed immense pressure on host communities,” she said. “The launch of this policy is not just a formal event, but a profound statement of our government’s determination to protect the dignity, rights, and future of every displaced Benue citizen.”

The official unveiling of the policy by Governor Alia, represented by his Deputy, Barr. Dr. Sam Ode, reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to enabling displaced families to return home, rebuild their lives, and thrive. To achieve this, ministries, agencies, civil society, private sector actors, and community leaders are expected to work together through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, the Durable Solutions Taskforce, and the SDGs Directorate to move the policy from words to action.

Barr. Wayo emphasized that the launch must mark a shift from policy intent to practical implementation. “It calls on all of us: government, partners, communities, and citizens to turn compassion into coordinated action, ensuring displacement in Benue never becomes a permanent condition, but a challenge we are united in overcoming,” she said.

This call was echoed by Save the Children International Deputy Country Director, Jane Mutua, and representatives of other humanitarian agencies, civil society groups, and displaced communities present at the event. They agreed that the new policy represents a major step in addressing the humanitarian challenges facing displaced populations in the state.

Mutua stressed the importance of ensuring that the policy moves beyond paper into action through full implementation, adequate funding, and continuous monitoring to achieve tangible results that directly impact displaced children and families.

The Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Aondowase Kunde, and the Executive Secretary of BSEMA, Dr. James Iorpuu, also commended Save the Children International for its consistent support. They emphasized the need for stronger collaboration between government and development partners to restore dignity and hope to thousands of IDPs across the state.

As the Benue State Government executes this social contract that places displaced persons at the centre of all interventions, all stakeholders and citizens must strengthen collaboration to restore dignity and hope to thousands of IDPs across the state.

Bridget Tikyaa is the Principal Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Publicity, and Communication Strategy.