The Nation Newspaper

Category: Northern Reports

  • CSO calls for proactive measures to halt bandit incursions into Kano

    CSO calls for proactive measures to halt bandit incursions into Kano

    A civil society organisation (CSO) has called for urgent and coordinated action to prevent further bandit incursions into Kano State, warning that the recent attacks pose a serious threat to the security and economic stability of Northern Nigeria.

    Addressing journalists in Abuja on Monday, Comrade Bishir Dauda Katsina, Executive Director of the Citizens Participation Against Corruption Initiative, said the penetration of bandits into Kano, long regarded as the most secure state in the North, should prompt immediate intervention from security agencies and political leaders.

    He said the attacks in Shanono, Bagwai, and Tsanyawa council areas signal a dangerous escalation that could destabilise the entire North-West if not swiftly contained.

    He noted that Kano’s role as the most populous state and as the commercial, cultural and educational hub of the North makes the situation particularly alarming.

    Katsina warned that any breakdown of security in the state would have far-reaching consequences for regional peace and economic survival.

    The group also accused some politicians of attempting to exploit the rising insecurity for their own political advantage, stating that recent allegations by the Kano State Government implicating unnamed actors must be thoroughly investigated.

    He warned that politicising insecurity has become a major obstacle to tackling terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.

    Katsina criticised calls by a political figure for the creation of a militia-style group under the guise of Hisbah, describing the proposal as reckless and capable of fuelling internal conflict.

    He also urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to distance himself from individuals allegedly hiding behind his image to evade corruption allegations while weaponizing insecurity.

    Linking the attacks to movements of bandits from neighbouring Katsina State, he said eyewitness accounts showed criminals crossing into border communities in Kano.

    He suggested that recent peace arrangements in Katsina may have prompted criminal activities to shift into adjoining states.

    According to Katsina, the situation shows that existing negotiation models with bandits are ineffective.

    He called for a new approach that prioritises disarmament, rehabilitation, and reintegration for genuinely repentant fighters, adding that such talks must no longer be handled informally at the community level without the involvement of government and credible organisations.

    Katsina urged federal troops to intensify operations against unrepentant bandits and kidnappers, insisting that any non-kinetic measures must be transparent, comprehensive, and supported by all tiers of government.

  • Ododo’s aide Nihi congratulates Energy Commission DG Abdullahi on CUSTECH honorary doctorate

    Ododo’s aide Nihi congratulates Energy Commission DG Abdullahi on CUSTECH honorary doctorate

    The Special Adviser on Youth and Student Matters to the Kogi State Governor, Hon. Oladele John Nihi, has congratulated Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, Director General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, on his conferment of a Doctorate Degree Honoris Causa by the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH) during its maiden Joint Convocation Ceremony.

    The honorary degree was presented by Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, in the presence of former Governor Yahaya Bello, the University Chancellor, and Vice-Chancellor Engr. Prof. Abdulrahman Asipita Salawu.

    In a statement, Hon. Nihi commended Dr. Abdullahi’s exceptional contributions to Nigeria’s energy sector, particularly his leadership in renewable energy policy and sustainable energy solutions.

    “This well-deserved honour recognizes Dr. Abdullahi’s tireless efforts to drive Nigeria’s energy sector forward,” he said.

    Dr. Abdullahi reaffirmed his commitment to promoting technological innovation, expanding access to renewable energy, and strengthening strategic partnerships that support Nigeria’s transition to a sustainable energy future.

    Hon. Nihi described the award as a testament to Dr. Abdullahi’s dedication to excellence and his significant impact on Nigeria’s energy landscape.

    He added, “We celebrate this achievement and look forward to continued collaboration in advancing sustainable energy development in the country.”

  • Genocide claim: President Trump, Ribadu’s Team and the Saudi Prince

    Genocide claim: President Trump, Ribadu’s Team and the Saudi Prince

    • Yushau A. Shuaib

    When U.S. President Donald Trump recently renewed his fixation with what he described as “Christian genocide” in Nigeria—going as far as calling the country a “disgraced nation”—I couldn’t help but laugh. Not because Nigeria’s security challenges are trivial, but because Trump’s history of loud, reckless, and contradictory outbursts makes it difficult for any serious observer to take him at face value.

    This is the same Trump who, during his first tenure, described Nigeria among African “shithole countries” and labelled then-President Muhammadu Buhari as “lifeless.” He once confronted Buhari with the question, “Why are you killing Christians?”, despite being widely known for superficial engagement with facts. No American leader in modern times has displayed Trump’s blend of theatrical tantrums, political sensationalism, and Hollywood-style dramatics.

    Trump’s behaviour is often stranger than fiction. Before the New York mayoral election, he repeatedly attacked Zohran Mamdani, a Muslim politician of South Asian descent born in Uganda, Africa, calling him a “communist” and threatening to punish New York City if he won. Trump vowed to slash federal funding, deploy the National Guard, and even suggested arresting him over immigration disagreements. Yet despite Trump’s intimidation, Mamdani won—proof that Trump’s political threats often collapse under their own emptiness.

    His track record is replete with contradictions. He loudly condemns alleged “Islamists” in Nigeria yet openly courted controversial figures abroad—including a former “terrorist leader” turned Syrian president, Ahmed al-Sharaa—meeting him both in Saudi Arabia and at the White House. Despite presenting himself as a defender of persecuted Christians, Trump’s positions are dictated more by political theatre and personal interests than principle.

    He once peddled a fabricated narrative of “white genocide” in South Africa, later dismissed by experts as propaganda. For someone whose policies contributed to the Gaza Genocide against Palestinians and whose rhetoric often inflames divisions, it is astonishing that some Nigerians still treat his statements as gospel truth.

    Yet, certain political actors and ethnic propagandists celebrated Trump’s threat to “invade Nigeria,” as though foreign military intervention were a badge of honour. Thankfully, prominent Christian voices—especially officials from the Middle Belt, including Benue State Governor Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia and Secretary to the Government of the Federation Senator George Akume, as well as vocal public commentators from Southern Nigeria such as Femi Fani-Kayode and Reno Omokri—firmly rejected the genocide narrative, affirming that violence in Nigeria affects Muslims and Christians alike.

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    Ironically, when Muslims attempted to counter the propaganda, some were accused of never condemning terrorism. But truth is not built on emotion. As a Muslim my writings over two decades—including 2003’s “Sharia: Between Civilisation and Belief,” 2006’s “Killing in the Name of the Devil,” 2012’s “Boko Haram and Political Elites in Northern Nigeria,” and 2018’s “Still on Murderous Fulani Kidnappers,” among others—demonstrate consistent condemnation of all violent crimes, irrespective of perpetrators’ religion or region. My blog further archives these personal opinion articles. Not everyone is a hypocrite. Some of us speak from conviction, not convenience.

    Security as well as investigative media reports reveal that the so-called “Christian genocide” narrative was constructed mainly by disgruntled Middle Belt activists, IPOB sympathisers, and foreign lobby groups disguised as NGOs. While some Christian communities document every casualty, Muslim communities—who have suffered the brunt of Boko Haram, banditry and state violence such as the 2016 Zaria Shiite massacre—rarely do so. Terrorists have ravaged entire Muslim-majority towns in the North, but their tragedies lack global amplification because they do not fit a convenient foreign narrative.

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu acted maturely by dispatching a delegation led by National Security Adviser Nuhu Ribadu to engage U.S. authorities. Observers noted that the Chief of Defence Staff, General Olufemi Oluyede, Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun and Chief of Defence Intelligence, Lt General Emmanuel Parker Undiandeye —all Christians—were on that delegation. If there were a coordinated genocide against Christians, would these respected top security chiefs be complicit?

    After every engagement involving Nigeria’s delegation—including Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Bianca Ojukwu, —with American authorities, deeply irresponsible official statements followed. Freshman U.S. Congressman Riley Moore mentioned “Christians” eight times without acknowledging Muslims who are also terrorism victims. Similarly, U.S. Secretary of Defence/War Pete Hegseth’s office emphasised “protection of Christians” and “stopping violence against Christians in Nigeria.”

    What about other Nigerians who suffer the same violence? What is the agenda behind this selective framing? Are Muslims and other communities expected to remain silent in the face of such reckless rhetoric? This one-sided narrative sends a troubling message—as though Muslim lives do not matter in the scheme to undermine Nigeria. Even more unfortunate is that some Nigerians are celebrating this distortion, as if the rest of us are no longer their brothers and sisters in nationhood.

    Meanwhile, as Ribadu’s delegation sought to clarify Nigeria’s secular stance in the USA, Trump welcomed Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the White House. He approved a major defence pact, facilitated F-35 jet sales, and celebrated investment commitments worth hundreds of billions of dollars. Saudi Arabia—the spiritual heart of global Islam—was also designated a major U.S. ally, while Nigeria was labelled a “country of concern.” Trump’s selective morality is guided not by religious solidarity but by strategic and financial interests.

    This makes one thing clear: Nigeria must resist being drawn into emotional propaganda. Americans, as responsible people, will never sanction the invasion of Nigeria over flimsy and concocted excuses as if we are a banana republic. Trump’s threats are mere bluster. The real danger lies in foreign-funded lobbyists—both locally and internationally—driving the genocide narrative. Once Nigeria ceases to trend, they will shift their campaign elsewhere.

    It would not be surprising if, realising that Trump is not coming, the so-called Christian genocide claimants may turn to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with claims that Jews are persecuted in Nigeria. Such a scenario would be absurd, yet not impossible—even though the most vocal self-proclaimed “Nigerian Jew” is currently serving a terrorism sentence in Sokoto.

    Nigeria’s security crises are real but not religious genocide. They stem from criminality, governance failures, climate pressure and economic distress—not state persecution. Nigeria must confront these challenges honestly, rejecting foreign labels designed to fracture our unity.

    The question remains: Is Trump protecting Nigerian Christians—or his own political and business interests, often in competition with China?

    _Yushau A. Shuaib is the author of “An Encounter with the Spymaster._

    _Email: yashuaib@yashuaib.com_

  • 100 widows receive new houses in Kaduna

    100 widows receive new houses in Kaduna

    One hundred widows at the weekend received keys to newly completed houses in Rigachikun, Igabi Local Government Area of Kaduna State, marking one of the largest single social housing allocations to vulnerable women in the state.

    The homes were provided under the Adashe Women Housing and Empowerment Scheme, led by its Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Umma Sani, whose personal experience of childhood homelessness inspired the initiative.

    The project was delivered in partnership with Family Homes Funds and the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.

    Speaking at the handover ceremony, Dr. Sani said the intervention was designed to offer widows far more than physical accommodation, noting that decent housing often determines whether vulnerable women can raise their children with dignity, stability and hope for a better future.

    She explained that the 100-unit estate was the product of a strong collaboration among all partners. “Today, 100 women have been given shelter, peace, and a serene environment where they can raise their children. Adashe conceived the idea, but Family Homes partnered with us, and the Ministry of Budget and Planning supported us. We give glory to God,” she said.

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    Dr. Sani noted that the housing allocation forms part of a wider empowerment package. Beneficiaries, she added, were trained and equipped with starter packs to help them run small businesses. “The idea is not just to give houses but to help these women stand on their feet,” she said.

    She revealed that the Rigachikun estate is only a pilot phase, with plans already underway to replicate the model in all 36 states. “Our goal is to ensure widows and orphans everywhere have a safe place to call home,” she added.

    Representing the Kaduna State Government, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Housing Development, Shehu Salisu, said both federal and state governments are committed to expanding affordable housing for vulnerable groups. He urged beneficiaries to maintain the facility to justify further investments.

    Managing Director of Family Homes Funds Limited, Abdul Muktar, said the organization is executing similar projects nationwide as part of efforts to support people whose circumstances leave them at a disadvantage. He urged the new homeowners to adopt good maintenance practices.

    One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Sarah Owojere, described the allocation as a lifesaver, saying she had endured years of hardship and lived in unsafe conditions prone to flooding. “God has really granted my heart’s desires,” she said.

  • NEDC donates food items to vulnerable Adamawa groups

    NEDC donates food items to vulnerable Adamawa groups

    The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has started distributing essential food items to vulnerable groups and key organisations in Adamawa state as part of a renewed effort to ease the work of institutions that support communities across the state.

    Flagging off the distribution in Yola, the Adamawa State NEDC Coordinator, Khalifa Lawan, said the outreach aligns with a directive from the Commission’s headquarters to reach out to organisations and vulnerable groups before the end of the year.

    “Today, we have commenced the distribution of these items to key organisations that play vital roles in our society. The gesture is to support them and ease their work as they continue serving the public and vulnerable people in their care,” Lawan said.

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    Lawan reaffirmed NEDC’s commitment to supporting institutions and vulnerable groups across the North East, describing such interventions as central to the NEDC’s mandate of uplifting communities and improving social welfare

    The beneficiaries include the Saint Joseph Catholic Church, Damilu; Goni Musa Tumo Tsangayya Wauro Jabbe Islamic School, the Nigerian Union of Journalists; Jama’atu Nasril Islam, a children’s home, as well as the Jimeta and Yolde-Pate Correctional centres.

    Items which include spaghetti and vegetable oil were delivered directly to the organisations which expressed appreciation for the support.

  • TNN to hold talks with political parties over coalition

    TNN to hold talks with political parties over coalition

    The leadership of Team New Nigeria (TNN) – an association will engage with the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and other political parties in order to form a coalition ahead of the 2027 general election.

    The National Secretary of the TNN National Communication Bureau, Professor Morgan Sarki, who confirmed that the talks will hold this weekend in Abuja, also disclosed that the association is holding coalition talks with several other registered political parties besides the ADC.

    According to him, “although these talks are ongoing, final agreements may be reached next month.”

    Gambo noted that nothing concrete had emerged from the discussions so far, adding that the primary motivation behind the coalition efforts is to strengthen social cohesion, promote nation-building, deepen democratic participation, and pursue joint programmes against tribalism, nepotism, and all forms of intolerance.

  • Foundation seeks safe space for boy – child

    Foundation seeks safe space for boy – child

    *Warns of possible danger from neglect

    The Yargote Foundation has called for the creation of a safe space and resource centre for boys to access emotional and mental health support.

    The Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the foundation, Anna Hussaini Pai said this yesterday in Abuja at the 2nd Empower the Boy-Child Summit.

    Pai revealed that the foundation enrolled 47 boys in its 2025 programme and is graduating 32 after six months of mentorship, soft-skills development and introductory hard-skills training.

    The executive officer also announced plans to expand the foundation’s impact through: “Establishing Empower the Boy-Child Clubs in selected FCT schools.

    She said: “Creating a safe space and resource centre for boys to access emotional and mental health support, Scaling the Yargote model to additional states.”

    She emphasised that the foundation’s long-term goal is to nurture future teachers, fathers, innovators, governors, entrepreneurs and nation-builders through home-grown, context-specific solutions.

    Pai urged parents, policymakers, religious leaders, civil society, development partners and the private sector to join efforts to “reclaim the forgotten pillar.”

  • Gwarzo mourns Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, condoles family, Bauchi Govt

    Gwarzo mourns Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, condoles family, Bauchi Govt

    The Founder MAAUN Group of Universities, Prof. Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo, has expressed deep shock over the death of the great Islamic scholar,  Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi who passed away on Thursday, 27th November, 2025.

    In a condolence in Kano- Nigeria on Friday, Prof. Gwarzo expressed his heartfelt condolences to the immediate family of the deceased.

    Gwarzo said the death of the Islamic scholar was a great loss not only to his family, but to Muslim Ummah and Nigeria at large. 

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    “We really lost a respected and great Islamic scholar who spent his life in teaching and preaching. The cleric would continue to be remembered by his followers not only in Nigeria but across African continent.

    “Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi was an epitome of peace and scholarship who always promoted peaceful coexistence, tolerance and unity among people wherever he went.

    “On behalf of the MAAUN Group of Universities, I wish to extend our condolences to the family of the deceased and his followers in Nigeria and beyond,” the statement said.

    Prof. Gwarzo also extended his heartfelt condolences to the government and people of Bauchi State over the great loss, praying to Allah to forgive the deceased and comfort his family especially during this period of grief. 

    He also prayed to Almighty Allah to grant the late Islamic scholar Aljannah Firdaus and his family the fortitude to bear the great loss 

    The Islamic scholar who left behind four wives, many children and grandchildren, had since been buried in Bauchi.

  • Beyond the single narrative: The reality of Benue killings

    Beyond the single narrative: The reality of Benue killings

    By Bridget Tikyaa

    No one is contesting that there has been serious security challenges in Benue State, nor the fact that the crisis is a complex mix of historical, economic, and political factors that include farmer-herder clashes, heavily armed attackers from across the Nigerian borders, “Faceless Politicians” sponsoring attacks, and failed leadership in the past lacking political will to implement lasting solutions. The crisis in Benue is certainly not the recent single narrative of genocide against Christians being peddled about, but a combination of several factors, including indigenous armed militias.

    It is not surprising the brouhaha that followed the simple and very clear dissection of the Benue crisis by Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia, a Reverend Father, at an event in Abuja on Thursday. For those bent on pushing the single factor narrative of genocide and their political arm, it was an opportunity to strike, to burry the historical facts of the crisis so as to demean the Chief Security Officer of the state, paint him in bad light, and even questioned his ‘Christiannes’ simply for expounding on the the historically contributive factors to the decades-long crisis in the state.

    In summary, the situation is neither a genocide nor a simple clash, but a multifaceted and devastating conflict with profound humanitarian, security, and political dimensions that demand a comprehensive and nuanced approach to address the root causes and provide justice for the victims. 

    Governor Alia’s crime is stating the facts as they are. Those trying to bury him knew that he never denied the killings of Benue people by bandits and terrorists. They just chose to misinterpret his statement, something they have been good at. Distorting the truth for their selfish ends. They wanted the governor and everyone else to agree to their very narrow single narrative of genocide, ignoring the proper context and global meaning of the term.

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    However, God has a way of responding to those who always seek his intercession in their affairs. A day after the barrage of criticisms of his speech in Abuja by political entrepreneurs who cash on crisis to promote their manipulative self-serving agenda, the governor had the opportunity to reply.

    Addressing journalists on Friday at Government House Makurdi after a closed-door meeting with Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka, Governor Alia said it was important for the public to understand that discussions around genocide must be based on the United Nations’ definition and historical context, noting that many people use the word loosely without considering its origin, its interpretation, or the criteria that qualify an event as genocide.

    According to him, his earlier description of the attackers “executing their plans religiously” was an idiomatic expression—similar to someone saying a task was carried out judiciously—meaning consistently and not in any religious sense, adding that the misinterpretation of his statement caused unnecessary confusion.

    “I never denied that my people were killed. I remain very firm that we have bandits and terrorists who come fully organized to destroy, maim, and kill. I have consistently—yes, religiously—stated that their aim is land grabbing. This did not begin as anything religious.”

    He emphasized that the crisis began as farmer–herder conflicts before escalating into full-blown banditry and terrorism, noting that people from different faith backgrounds have suffered losses, therefore, attempts to frame the killings as religiously motivated were misleading and harmful.

    Social media has given space to those distorting the truth at will. Sadly, even the mainstream media relying on social media posts have often spread fake, distorted, and half truth as news. To such ‘journalists’, the has a word of caution. Stop politicising tragedy or amplifying misinterpretations. Seek clarifications whenever issues arise rather than worsening tensions through inaccurate interpretations.

    “You journalists are great minds and great hands. You are not weapons of mass destruction; you are weapons of societal construction. When something is unclear, one phone call can clarify it instead of confusing the entire society,” he said.

    Even without saying it, every loss in Benue will weigh heavily on the governor, so also the inconsiderate words coming from a section of the public who tend to trivialise the suffering of displaced families. Certainly, Benue State has been attacked, violated, and its people driven from their ancestral homes, leaving a large number in Internally Displaced Persons camps.

    The governor has been emphatic against turning the Benue crisis into a single narrative. To people pushing such a narrative, Governor Alia has a bit of education for them. “The situation is multi-sectoral. Don’t reduce it to religion. Both Muslims and Christians have been killed. Benue is the most populous Christian state in the North, so naturally, there are unspoken expectations, but let us not politicize people’s pain.”

    Even Professor Wole Soyinka dropped a word of caution to those pushing the genocide narrative and calling for foreign intervention. He warned the country against accepting help from foreign countries whose interventions might worsen the already bad security challenges in the country.

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

  • Benue Govt, solid project and new lifeline for displaced families

    Benue Govt, solid project and new lifeline for displaced families

    By Bridget Tikyaa

    There are over half a million registered internally displaced persons in Benue State. Some have lived in camps for years, others are recent victims of the insecurity that has bedevilled the state for decades. It is a crisis born out of a complex mix of several factors – historical, economic, and political – ranging from farmer-herder clashes, armed bandits, politically sponsored crisis, to indigenous militias. In every attack, there are consequences. The most prominent being the complete displacement of residents, forcing them to live as refugees.

    It is therefore fantastically refreshing when the Benue State Government announced the scaling up interventions for thousands of displaced families through the SOLID Project, a World Bank supported project.

    The assurance came during a breakfast session on Friday, November 21, 2025, attended by Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia and the National Project Coordinator of the World Bank–supported SOLID Project, Hajia Hajara Ahmad, at the Government House, Makurdi. It was a strategic engagement to scale up interventions for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and vulnerable host communities across Benue State.

    The breakfast session served as a comprehensive debrief following the World Bank Technical Mission to Benue State. The Technical Mission, which had earlier toured several project locations, assessed ongoing work under the SOLID initiative and identified critical areas requiring accelerated action. The engagement, therefore, offered an opportunity for both parties to harmonize their findings and establish a unified roadmap for enhanced project delivery.

    An elated Governor Alia expressed appreciation for the World Bank’s sustained partnership, describing the SOLID Project as a lifeline for thousands of displaced families in Benue. He noted that the project aligns with his administration’s overarching vision of providing durable, sustainable, and community-driven solutions to displacement and poverty.

    “The collaboration we have with the World Bank and the SOLID National Coordination Team remains invaluable,” he stated. “Your continued support strengthens our resolve to restore dignity, stability, and economic opportunities for our displaced brothers and sisters who have endured years of hardship.”

    The Benue State Bureau for International Cooperation and Development (BICD) has been at the centre of these efforts, providing needed coordination. This highlights how effective institutional synergy is essential for translating donor-supported programmes into real, measurable improvements in the lives of vulnerable populations.

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    “Our administration is encouraged by the leadership and capacity the BICD has demonstrated,” the Governor said, adding that “Through strengthened institutions and well-coordinated partnerships, we will ensure this project delivers lasting impact across all targeted communities.”

    There were assurances of placing the IDPs at the centre of the interventions, putting their needs first. This much was assured by Hajia Hajara Ahmad, National Project Coordinator of the SOLID Project while providing detailed briefing on the Mission’s observations and outlined recommended next steps to improve efficiency, transparency, and community participation. She not only commended the Benue State Government for its openness to collaboration, but also reaffirmed World Bank’s commitment to supporting the state’s humanitarian and recovery agenda.

    Discussions during the meeting focused on scaling up livelihood support for affected families, improving access to essential services, strengthening local governance structures, and ensuring accountability in project implementation. Both sides agreed on renewed timelines, improved monitoring mechanisms, and expanded community engagement strategies.

    Government officials who attended the session disclosed that the state will immediately begin implementing the newly agreed action points, noting that timely execution is crucial as many displaced households prepare to return to their communities.

    The SOLID Project—Strengthening Opportunities for Livelihoods, Inclusion, and Development—is a World Bank–funded initiative designed to enhance resilience, improve service delivery, and promote sustainable recovery for conflict-affected populations in Nigeria. In Benue, the project targets areas with high concentrations of IDPs and communities that continue to bear the burden of hosting displaced families.

    It is a renewed push for accelerated delivery as the project enters a more action-driven phase, with a firm commitment to rebuilding communities, restoring livelihoods, and ensuring long-term stability for families scattered by years of crisis.

    This intervention is part of several steps already taken by Governor Alia to to get the internally displaced persons back on their feet and to their ancestral homes.

    According to an International Organization for Migration (IOM) report, the population of IDPs has hit over 500,182 in the state. In June 2025, the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA) announced the registration of 18,592 additional IDPs in Gwer West Local Government Area. So far, however, records indicate that over 200,000 IDPs have returned home following initiatives of the state government.

    The government had on September 30, 2025, unveiled the Benue State IDPs Policy to address the humanitarian challenges confronting the state’s displaced population. The Policy was developed by Benue State Government in partnership with Save the Children International,  building on Governor Alia’s efforts, which include the launch of a programme for the the safe return of the IDPs to their ancestral homes through a three-pronged approach of Return, Integration, and Resettlement plan.

    The governor has also been providing land, subsidized inputs, and improved seedlings to IDPs to return to farm, and initiated the formation of 210 Farmers Cooperatives across all camps in the state, which have a total of  4,200 members.

    The government is also constructing 3,000 housing units to shelter at least 16,000 IDPs in the state, and completed a Transit Camp in Guma LGA, providing dignified emergency shelter for  over 4,000 IDPs.

    There were also other interventions, including entrepreneurship programmes for IDPs and refugees, and aiming to create over 50,000 direct jobs and impact more than 80,000 families.

    The governor has also initiated peacebuilding and community dialogues to foster peace and land donations from traditional rulers for farming and relocation. All these initiatives are part of the governor’s broader efforts to restore normalcy to conflict-affected areas and improve the living conditions of displaced persons across Benue State.

    • Bridget Tikyaa is Principal Special Assistant to the Governor on Media Publicity and Communications Strategy