The Plateau State Government and the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, have supervised the disbursement of N1.5 billion in humanitarian assistance to 1,579 victims of attacks in five local government areas of Plateau State. The beneficiaries were drawn from the most affected communities in Barkin Ladi, Bassa, Bokkos, Mangu and Riyom Local Government Areas.
The intervention comprises N1 billion donated by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, through her Renewed Hope Initiative, and N500 million contributed by the Plateau State Government. APC National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, who recounted his personal experience of displacement during the crises in Plateau, said he understood the pains of victims because he had also lost friends, neighbours and relations to violence.
Yilwatda commended Mrs Tinubu for responding to the plight of victims, saying the intervention demonstrated that their cries had been heard. He assured the displaced persons that there would be light at the end of the tunnel despite the intermittent crises in the state. He urged the beneficiaries to use the assistance judiciously to rebuild their livelihoods, families and communities.
Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, described the occasion as an opportunity to acknowledge the suffering of families whose lives had been permanently altered by violence. He praised the First Lady for the N1 billion donation, saying the combined N1.5 billion intervention represented a demonstration of compassion and solidarity with affected communities.
Mutfwang said the intervention could not replace lives lost or completely erase the trauma suffered by victims. However, he added that the assistance could provide immediate relief and enable affected families to begin rebuilding their lives. He pledged to continue working towards creating the conditions necessary for internally displaced persons (IDPs) to safely return to their ancestral homes.
The Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Kachollom Pyam Gang, said the N1.5 billion intervention was designed to support families and communities affected by violent attacks in Bassa, Barkin Ladi, Bokkos, Mangu and Riyom local government areas. She expressed appreciation to the First Lady for the N1 billion intervention through the Renewed Hope Initiative and commended Mutfwang for the additional N500 million contribution.
The assistance will not only support affected individuals and families but also be used to execute community projects in the affected areas. An inter-ministerial committee was established by the state government to identify victims of displacement to ensure transparency and fairness in the selection of beneficiaries.
Key points
- - The Plateau State Government and APC National Chairman disbursed N1.5 billion to 1,579 victims of attacks. - The intervention comprises N1 billion donated by the First Lady and N500 million contributed by the Plateau State Government. - The assistance will support affected individuals, families, and community projects in the affected areas.
