By Titus Atondu, Makurdi
The Country representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Mohamed Yahya has disclosed that additional N320 Million is to be invested to support Internally Displaced Persons(IDPs) and empower the Youths in Benue State.
The UNDP country representative made the disclosure on Tuesday when he led UNDP delegation on a courtesy visit to the Governor of Benue State Samuel Ortom at government House Makurdi, explained that the organization is investing additional N120 Million to scale up access to livelihood for communities affected by conflicts and IDPs.
Yahya further explained that the project would be undertaken alongside social protection efforts being led jointly with UNHCR and others.
He also said that another N200 Million would be invested to empower Benue youths with practical skills, technologies and knowledge across the agriculture value chain to encourage their participation in the sector for possible transformation of their lives and communities.
The UNDP country representative also revealed that the organization has initiated the procurement of critical equipment for the peace Agency that Benue State was developing as part of their to compliment Benue State government efforts on peace building.
On the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, he said that humanity was going through unprecedented times as a result of the virus thereby creating a global health emergency that has disrupted the daily life of nearly all citizens worldwide.
He said the pandemic has created challenges for Nigerians vulnerable population with its complex development setting which has called for concerted action to simultaneously mitigate the health and social -economic implications.
According to him, the virus socio -economic impacts would likely unfold for years to come and threatened to not halt but also reverse progress on poverty eradication,food security as the country enters a new recession after years and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs).
Responding, the Governor of Benue State Samuel Ortom reiterated his administration resolve to ensure continued support to all peace building Programmes and resettlement of IDPs in the State.
The Governor stated that the State under his watch has provided land in Agatu, Guma, Logo, Buruku and Kwande local government areas for human security development projects such as housing and livelihood support Programmes for the IDPs.
Ortom explained that the State needed strategic and substantive support to return the IDPs to their ancestral homes and called on UNDP to help facilitate the process.