Nation
IDPs’ Upkeep: Benue SEMA Shops For N500m Monthly Upkeep
The Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has said that it needs about N500million for the provision of basic necessities for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP), in the State.
The state’s IDP is reportedly to be about 2milliion.
The Executive Secretary, SEMA, Benue State, Dr. Emmanuel Shior, made the disclosure in Makurdi while flagging off the monthly distribution of food and non-food items to the official and unofficial IDPs camps in the State.
Shior lamented that the humanitarian crisis in the state occasioned by armed herdsmen attacks had overwhelmed the state government adding that the state government was struggling with the burden and without support from the Federal Government .
“We need about N500million to take care of the basic needs of the IDPs on a monthly basis.
“We know that food is very very expensive. A truck of 25kg rice which is about 1,200 bags is about N18million. What we have here is not enough to go round. So in terms of purchasing food and non-food items that should be enough, we need approximately N500million to buy enough items for the IDPs monthly.
“It is unfortunate that Benue State has been abandoned and the IDPs have been neglected by the Federal Government; and the challenge at hand is very huge that it cannot be left to the Benue State government alone.
“Fortunately Governor Samuel Ortom has been relentless not only in working and ensuring that he mobilises Benue SEMA on a monthly basis to respond to some of the basic needs of the IDPs, but also ensuring that in other areas of human endeavor he works to ensure that the lives of Benue citizens are actually better.
“The situation we have in our hands is not only humanitarian, in most of the communities that they attacked they also destroyed the infrastructure, farmlands, crops schools, markets, churches and even bridges so as to make it difficult for security agencies to access the attacked communities and those they are occupying.
“So it is difficult for the government to return the IDPs. And this has been in existence for over four years since 2018 but we will not be tired of talking about this. Some people who want to be mischievous try to compare the humanitarian situation in Benue state to what is happening in Borno state.
“It is unfortunate to make that kind of comparison because there is no basis for it. Benue State has been neglected, the IDPs have been abandoned by the Federal Government; and indeed the challenge at hand is very huge that it cannot be left to the Benue State Government alone”, Shior said.
The Alliance Française Port Harcourt in conjunction with the Embassy of France Nigeria over the weekend joined the globe to campaign against the 2025 gender- based violence (GBV) with the theme: “16 Days of Activism Against Gender- Based Voice”
The event which took place at the event Hall of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt was in collaboration with the Female in Gaming Network, ( FIGN) and partnership with Nexal a body that seeks to promote online safety and responsible digital behaviour.
The Tide reports that the project which was aimed at promoting digital safety and girls inclusion in Gaming, with the initiative tagged ‘Gameover Gender- Base Violence’was part of the global campaign against gender- based Violence.
The activity which experienced a flavour of festivity was full of fun and excitements as participants took part in tournaments on popular digital games such as Mario kart and EAFC 25, with an intent to creating safer and more inclusive digital spaces.
The Director of the Alliance Française Port Harcourt, Mrs Marina Lacal said that these activities were designed to encourage inclusion of girls, team work and fair play on online gaming spaces, saying that the gaming world reflects these inequalities, where female players are often under represented.
According to her the main objectives of the initiative was to provide a supportive environment for girls and female in gaming network.
“GameOverGBV” is a project created to reshape this landscape by offering an innovative inclusiveness of girls on online digital Gaming community and digital environments that provide opportunities for creativity, learning and connection, but also fight against Gender-Based Violence Digital Gaming,”she said
She however, explained that the Digital Game, sport competitions, was launched to strengthen social and digital skills through games, workshops, and raise awareness among all young participants about respect, equality and digital citizenship.
The Tide News reports that in Port Harcourt, the competition brought together 100 young participants from three major universities: University of Port Harcourt, ( UNIPORT),Ignatius Ajuru University of Education(IAUE) and Rivers State University (RSU)as well as students from four selected secondary schools, Oginigba comprehensive Secondary.School, Vine lnternational, Virgo predicanda lnternational, and Excellent Montessori Secondary school.
“This is an approach where girls and boys can learn, play and collaborate in a more respectful and safe space for young women, while ensuring a safe, enjoyable and respectful digital environment. It also expose young women to cyberbullying, exclusion, sexist comments and online hate,” Mrs. Lacal said.
Earlier, a game developer Sophia Nei and her. team had engaged participants in an interactive session with the theme: “Can Video Games Be Safe Spaces For Girls?”
However, Mrs Nei and her team educated the girls on the benefits and violence on online digital gaming and urged them ( participants)to learn to say ‘No’ to Online hate, sexist and cyber bullying, while encouraging them(students) to stand up for themselves by reporting such issues to the appropriate authority.
Highlight of the competition was the awarding of prizes to winners by the Director of Alliance Française, Mrs Marina Lacal.
