We will make Benue the ‘Food Basket of the Nation’ again — Tinubu
…flags off construction of Renewed Hope Shelter for IDPs
By Titus Atondu, Makurdi
President Bola Tinubu has promised to restore normalcy to Benue State from the scourge of terror related attacks in a bid to restore the status of the State as the ”Food Basket of the Nation.”
“Hope is here. You will occupy your ancestral homes, go to farm and work to produce food for the nation. You will return home in peace,” he said when he flagged off the construction of resettlement homes tagged Renewed Hope Shelter for Benue Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Benue State.
President Tinubu performed the foundation laying ceremony on Wednesday at Tatyough Mbagwen in Makurdi, the State capital.
Represented by the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, accompanied by the Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, the President laid the foundation for the construction of 20 units of clustered settlements
Dr. Edu explained that President Tinubu is concerned about the plight of Benue people who have been displaced from their ancestral homes to resettle them.
She stressed that, “It is time for Benue people who have cried and suffered 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 fulfilment of that promise.”
The Humanitarian Minister expressed sadness over the pain and anguish that Benue people have gone through over the years as a result of attacks and displacement by bandits.
“You cannot reduce the Food Basket of the Nation to hunger, hope is here. You will occupy your ancestral homes, go to farm and work to produce 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 their houses for themselves. This gives them the dignity to build their homes as well as empower them financially,” She explained.
Responding, the Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia told the Minister that the attacks on the people of the State have been on since 2010 and heightened in 2016.
The Governor commended President Tinubu for keeping to his pledge to return Benue people to their ancestral homes and urged the people to be patient with the Government.
Earlier, the House of Assembly member representing Makurdi North, Hon. Berger Alfred disclosed that more than 12,000 people have been killed with others displaced by bandits since 2011.
“I remember when last I visited my ancestral home was when I wanted to get married in 2017 and was compelled to come here and do the traditional marriage rites. This place is called Tatyough, even when I was campaigning to be elected as a member of the Benue State House of Assembly, nobody, I say nobody was here.
“Honourable Minister, this land we are standing upon whatever we plant on it even without fertilizers, bountiful harvest is recorded,” Berger stated.
On his part, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs Aondoawase Kunde noted the need to put in place measures to avert and reduce vulnerability to future disasters in collaboration with the security agencies.
The Commissioner further lauded the President and the Governor for keeping to their campaign promises and added that Benue people and Nigeria at large recognize their laudable achievement that has direct bearing on people’s lives.
