By Sunday Ogli , Makurdi
Benue State Government has commenced a validation process to domesticate the newly federal government policy on Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs in the state.
The state commissioner for Humanitarian and Disaster Management, Mr Aondowase Kunde, who disclosed this during a two policy validation meeting held in Makurdi on Thursday, said that upon stakeholders inputs into the Internally Displaced Persons policy document, it would be fully launched.
Mr Kunde added that the aim is to improve the welfare of the displaced population in the state.
He maintained that the document which was passed into law by the National Assembly needed to be domesticated in the state in line with the peculiarities of the state.
In his remarks, the Chairman, House Committee on Humanitarian and Disaster Management, Benue State House of Assembly, Mr. James Abu Umoro, noted that the state has suffered so many natural and man-made disasters that required the policy to be domesticated in the state.
Umoru insisted that the House will not hesitate to pass the document into law when presented by the Executive arm of government.
He said the issue of IDPs in the state is a concern for everyone and must be given accelerated consideration at any point in time.
On his part, House Committee Chairman on SDG and Donor Agencies, Mr Peter Uche, noted that in most cases, communities have suffered attacks for more than ten years.
“Let me therefore, call on all to support the implementation of the policy document for the displaced to return to their ancestral homes to start their normal farming and business activities”, he stated.
The Director General, Sustainable Development Goals, Mr John Akuse, who also spoke at the occasion, said the validation of the IDPs policy document is vital in paving the way for the displaced population to be adequately taken care of regarding their peculiar needs.
