The federal government has commenced the construction of cluster resettlement homes for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Benue.

Performing the ceremony at Mbagwen, Makurdi Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, said President Bola Tinubu was committed to improving the lives of IDPs.

“Benue people have cried enough, they have struggled enough, they have been in pain enough. President Tinubu says it is time for the Benue people to rejoice,” she said.

Ms Edu said the construction of cluster resettlement homes was the beginning of a renewed hope for Benue.

The minister said the houses will be built in clusters through direct labour, adding that the locals in every community will be used during the project.

“This project will be completed within six months so that they can immediately return to their ancestral homes.

“Every cluster will have 20 houses; this will allow them to resettle in their various communities. We will buy the materials in Benue, and the locals will build these houses themselves,’’ she said.

She further explained that the federal government would provide the funds and supervise while the state government would closely monitor.

In his remarks, Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue said the security situation in the state was beyond herders’ attacks, adding that the state was also facing banditry and kidnappings.

Mr Alia said his administration had deployed an underground security architecture, which had resulted in the relative peace the state was currently enjoying.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Aondowase Kunde, said the crisis had affected eight local government areas (LGAs).

Mr Kunde listed the affected LGAs as Guma, Logo, Ukum, Kwande, Gwer West, Agatu, Makurdi and Katsina-Ala.

The commissioner said the government had implemented strong measures to prevent and reduce vulnerability to future crises and disasters.

(NAN)