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In a stunning revelation that’s rewriting Benue’s story on the global stage, the management of the Bureau for International Cooperation and Development (BICD) has disclosed why the state’s tragic humanitarian crises flew under the international radar for decades: Benue was blacklisted by the global community for a staggering 24 years. But under Governor Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, that’s ancient history—today, trust is rebuilt, and 38 new NGOs are charging in to tackle the IDP nightmare head-on.
Dr. Leo-Angelo Viashima, Director General of BICD, dropped the bombshell during a candid session with the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Makurdi. “Benue was blacklisted for 24 years before Governor Alia’s advent restored confidence in our system,” Viashima explained. The blacklist? A toxic legacy of mistrust that starved the state of vital aid amid relentless farmer-herder clashes, displacements, and humanitarian heartbreaks.
Enter Alia: Since his inauguration, the priest-turned-governor has flipped the script. By establishing the BICD as a dedicated gateway for donor relations, his administration has wooed back high-profile players like the United Nations (UN), International Organization for Migration (IOM), and UNICEF. The payoff? A flood of resources, with 38 new NGOs now registered and aligned with Alia’s seven-point agenda—focusing on agriculture, health, education, and urgent IDP welfare.
Viashima didn’t mince words on the ripple effects: “Hotels are fully booked with frequent international visitors, stimulating our internal revenue.” It’s not just talk—concrete wins include securing $10,000 for the Benue Sexual Assault and Referral Center and over N10 billion for malaria treatment statewide.
At the crisis’s core are Benue’s over half a million IDPs, crammed into camps across 17 local government areas, per IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM). Viashima stressed a humane approach: “IDPs have the right to voluntarily return home—no government compulsion.” But safety first—the state won’t resettle a single soul until the National IDP Policy is law. In the interim, collaborations are ramping up: 300 hectares of land acquired for IDP demonstration farms to foster self-reliance, plus multisectoral interventions via USAID’s Rapid Response Fund.
Governor Alia himself has been vocal, recently assuring UNHCR of his ironclad commitment to IDP challenges. Through the new Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, a beefed-up Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and BICD’s donor matchmaking, resources are flowing where they matter most.
The turnaround hasn’t gone unnoticed. The Benue State House of Assembly’s Committee on Sustainable Development Goals and Donor Agencies recently passed a resounding vote of confidence in Alia and Viashima, praising the “enabling environment” that’s unlocked billions in funding. As Viashima wrapped his NUJ chat, he lauded Alia’s no-lip-service style: “Past projects were hijacked as ‘state wins’—now, it’s genuine partnership for our people’s welfare.”
Benue’s humanitarian saga? From ignored crisis to international darling. With 38 NGOs on board and more alliances brewing, Alia’s Benue is proving that redemption isn’t just possible—it’s happening now. Stay tuned for the full story in the comments below.
