No fewer than 77,000 Internally Displaced Persons have been captured through the Biometric Data Registration Exercise currently going on in Benue State by International Organizations.
Head of the Program and Team Leader, Mr Dennis Wani, made this disclosure while presenting interim report to the Deputy Governor, Barr Sam Ode, at the Government House Makurdi.
Mr Wani, noted that the aforementioned figure which was verifiable and accurate was obtained from the IDP camps and house holds in Makurdi, Logo, Kwande and Guma Local Government Areas, stressing that the exercise was going on in Agatu Local Government Area.
According to Head of the Program, six Local Governments are to partake in the first phase, which is to be completed in December, 2023 with the second phase starting in 2024 respectively.
Receiving the Interim Report, Deputy Governor, Barr Sam Ode, Implored Ministries, Interagencies and Development Partners to synergize in order to achieve maximum results.
While acknowledging the efforts of Development Partners in their prompt response to Humanitarian Crises in the state, the Deputy Governor, lauded them for the interim report. He urged them to ensure timely completion of the exercise.
Also speaking, Commissioner, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management in Benue State, Mr Aondowase Kunde, said that resettlement of the IDPs by the State Government would be easier with the Biometric Data Registration.
In his remarks, Acting Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Benue State, Mr James Iorpuu, pointed out that the exercise has placed Benue State on Humanitarian map for more responses from international organizations.
