Emmanuel Shior, the immediate past Executive Secretary (ES), Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has said Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) on Benue have lamented a decline in the provision of relief materials to IDPs in the state.
He explained that the IDPs have reportedly said there has been a sharp decline in the state government providing relief materials to them in Benue.
He posed critical questions regarding the allocation of resources intended for IDP support, emphasizing the need for transparency and accountability in the administration’s operations.
Investigations also revealed that IDPs in the state were not given relief materials in the months of February and March, 2025.
In a statement in Makurdi, Shior, the former SEMA boss criticized the current government for failing to enhance IDP management, stressing that many displaced persons have reported a decline in the provision of relief materials to them since the change in leadership in 2023.
He lamented that, “What is particularly ironic is that while the Governor claims to have improved conditions for IDPs, new camps are being established without adequate provisions for their welfare.”
He pointed out that in a recent outing with the media, the governor claimed that his administration lacks data on IDPs within the state, adding that the governor also attributed some of its failure to meet the needs of IDPs and indeed effectively tackle the humanitarian crisis in the state due to lack of data, describing the statement as two-faced.
Shior, who is presently a Lecturer at the Federal University of Lafia, further observed that the ongoing humanitarian situation in Benue state remains a pressing concern, underscoring the necessity for accurate data and effective governance to address the needs of IDPs in Benue.
The former ES, therefore urged the Governor to take immediate action to update and put to use the existing IDP data for effective coordination and management of humanitarian efforts.
Shior emphasized the importance of accurate data in addressing the humanitarian crisis stemming from escalating insecurity in the state, which has resulted in a growing IDP population.
“Governor Alia’s claim (of lack of data) is a misrepresentation of the facts. In my handover notes, I documented data indicating approximately two million IDPs and around ten thousand Cameroonian refugees in Benue State,” Shior stated.
He further argued that while in office and part of efforts to gather reliable data, the previous administration established strategic partnerships and conducted symposiums aimed at generating reliable data for effective IDP management.
This collaborative effort, Shior observed, included partnerships with various national and international organizations such as NEMA, UNHCR, and UNICEF, culminating in the creation of the Benue State Humanitarian Response Plan.
He insisted that Governor Alia had previously acknowledged the same data in media presentations and discussions with humanitarian partners and wondered why the governor has suddenly turned round to speak in a contradictory tone. End.
