From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
The immediate past Executive Secretary of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr. Emmanuel Shior, has faulted the state governor, Rev Fr Hyacinth Alia, over his claims on lack of data on the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state.
Shior in a statement made available to newsmen in Makurdi yesterday, said the governor in a recent media outing, claimed that his administration lacked data on the IDPs in the state.
The former SEMA boss expressed concern over the governor’s assertion, questioning whether the administration also lacked data on the Cameroonian refugees that the state was currently hosting.
He emphasised the importance of accurate data in addressing the humanitarian crisis arising from escalating insecurity in the state, which had resulted in a growing IDP population.
Shior said: “Governor Alia’s claim is a misrepresentation of the facts. In my handover notes, I documented data indicating approximately 2 million IDPs and around 10,000 Cameroonian refugees in Benue State.”
Shior, a lecturer at Federal University of Lafia, emphasised that the previous administration established strategic partnerships and conducted symposiums aimed at generating reliable data for effective IDP management.
This collaborative effort, he said, included partnerships with various national and international organisations such as NEMA, UNHCR, and UNICEF, culminating in the creation of the Benue State Humanitarian Response Plan.
Dr. Shior noted that Governor Alia had previously acknowledged the same data in media presentations and discussions with humanitarian partners and wondered why the governor had suddenly turned round to speak in a contradictory tone.
Dr. Shior criticised the state government for failing to enhance IDP management, stating that many displaced individuals had reported a decline in the provision of relief materials to them since the change in leadership of the state in 2023.
He observed that: “What is particularly ironic is that while the governor claims to have improved the condition for IDPs, new camps are being established without adequate provisions for their welfare.”
Dr. Shior urged Governor Alia to take immediate action to update and utilise the existing IDP data for effective coordination and management of humanitarian efforts.