From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Benue State Civil Society Organisation (CSO) Coordination Platform for Environmental and Climate Issues has concluded plans to sensitise the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) at the Mega camp in Guma Local Government Area LGA of the state. The state governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, has commenced relocation of IDPs in several camps in Makurdi to the mega camp, where they were provided with a more dignified kind of living environment.
Rising from their first quarterly meeting of year 2025, the group agreed there was need to sensitise the occupants on the need to observe good environmental practices that would impact their lives positively.
The group said, it had observed that as the IDPs are going back to their communities, incidents of deforestation, sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) among others have been on the rise, hence the need to sensitise them against SGBV, deforestation and also empower them on alternative sources of fuel.
Speaking earlier, the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, Mrs Ann Itodo, thanked the organisers of the platform for the coordination, and highlighted all that they were doing in line with activities and programmes of the ministry. The commissioner, who was represented by the Director Women Affairs, Mrs Magdalene Andor, commended the platform for starting its activities early in the year and urged members to contribute meaningfully for the benefit of the target groups.
The Special Adviser to Governor Hyacinth Alia on People with Disabilities, Mr Bem Anshe, appreciated the state government for demonstrating passion in planning for persons with disabilities in Benue State and ensuring they are not left out in the scheme of things.
He informed that the governor has approved the Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities Act, which has passed through the first reading at the Benue State House of Assembly. Anshe lamented that before now people thought PWDs have little or nothing to contribute to nation building and because of that they were marginalised, stigmatised, reject and traumatised.
He urged other governors and organisations to borrow a leaf from Governor Alia and improve on inclusion of PWDs in their discussions and activities.