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Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
Benue State Government has sought the support of the United Nations (UN) on a number of priorities, including a Climate Resilience Compact, anchored on the restoration and sustainable management of the River Benue.
The State Governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, made the plea when he received on an official visit, the Deputy Secretary- General of the United Nations, Dr Amina Mohammed at Government House, Makurdi, on Friday.
The Governor, who described Benue as a critical intersection of global priorities, food security, climate resilience, and human dignity, said the assistance should prioritize dredging of the River Benue, flood control, and climate-smart agriculture.
The Governor also sought the UN partnership in other priority areas, including agro-industrial transformation and mechanization seeking partnership on a UN–Benue Agro-Industrial and Mechanization Initiative, to scale mechanized farming, strengthen value chains, and position Benue as a competitive agro-industrial hub.
Speaking on human capital development (Education, Health and WASH), Alia said, “We seek to establish an integrated platform that delivers quality education for all, especially displaced children, strengthened healthcare systems, sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure
“We request support for a stabilization and community security compact, to institutionalize early warning systems, protect communities, and enable safe return of displaced populations.
“We seek the establishment of a Benue SDG Transition and Resilience Financing Facility, a pooled funding platform to scale impact across all sectors.”
The governor expressed commitment that Benue is ready to lead, partner, and deliver results that matter, not just for her people, but as a model for Nigeria and the global community.
He noted painfully that “as the food basket of our nation, our stability is directly linked to the stability of Nigeria’s food systems and, indeed, West Africa’s broader supply chains. Yet, we are also at the frontline of complex challenges; farmer–herder conflicts, climate-induced vulnerabilities, and the realities of over 500,000 internally displaced persons across our communities.”
The Governor enumerated his efforts in education, infrastructure, the health sector, as well as in humanitarian support to the displaced families in the state, saying that since assuming office in 2023, his administration has pursued a deliberate and integrated development pathway, focused on rebuilding systems, restoring dignity, and unlocking economic potential.
He stated, “What we seek is not charity, but collaboration. Not isolated projects, but integrated systems. Not temporary relief, but lasting transformation. Together, we can turn vulnerability into resilience, displacement into opportunity, and potential into prosperity.”
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The Deputy Secretary-General, Dr Amina Mohammed, appreciated the Government of Benue State for the invitation to visit to see first-hand the priorities of the State and the resilience and beauty of its people.
Mohammed, who visited the Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area (LGA), on arrival, expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of those killed in the recent attacks in Benue State, including in Mbalom, in Gwer East LGA and in Yelewata, and expressed solidarity with all affected communities, including those newly displaced.
She said, “We meet at a moment of profound global uncertainty, as conflict, climate shocks, economic pressures and displacement are converging and placing a growing strain on communities around the world describing the war in Iran is a stark reminder of how quickly conflict can escalate, with consequences that reverberate far beyond any one country or region.
The UN official lauded the efforts being made by Governor Alia to pursue durable solutions for displaced families, including through access to agricultural land and opportunities for self-reliance, saying they reflect the kind of joined-up leadership this moment demands.
She acknowledged, “This is how the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)are advanced in practice: through integrated action that connects humanitarian response to long-term development, restores agency, reduces dependency and leaves no one behind.
“With sustained leadership, stronger partnerships and continued investment in livelihoods and value chains, Benue is well placed to translate its assets into more inclusive and resilient growth.”
She pledged United Nations readiness to support all efforts in ways that are practical, coordinated and aligned behind State priorities.
She said, “We stand ready to work with Benue State to strengthen education data, planning and service delivery, including in hard-to-reach and displacement-affected areas. Benue is on the frontlines of climate shocks, including flooding and dry spells that
undermine food security, livelihoods and social cohesion, and deepen displacement.
“The United Nations will continue to stand in solidarity with Benue State, working with you to advance durable solutions, strengthen social cohesion and support a more peaceful and resilient future for all.
Speaking on the significance of the visit, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Representative in Nigeria, Wafaa Abdelatef, said it is about the partnership between the United Nations team led by the Deputy Secretary General and the state government, bringing hope and sustainable development for change.
While acknowledging the leadership of Governor Hyacinth Alia for its efforts so far, Abdelatef affirmed UNICEF’s commitment to support the state achieve its last results.
