Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State says the state government is collaborating with its counterpart in Benue State and security agencies to ensure that border security issues are addressed permanently.
The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Public Affairs, Hon Peter Ahemba disclosed this at a press briefing in Lafia on Monday.
According to him, significant steps are being taken to address the challenges faced by internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the state to enable communities affected by the farmers-herders crisis to return to their homes.
He said: “There have been a number of internally displaced persons in Aygaragu, Kardako in Obi Local Government Area, Giza in Keana, and other communities in Doma Local Government Area who have been displaced due to attacks on communities in the border area. These communities at the border often face challenges when there are attacks in Benue State.
“Some of them, due to fear of being attacked, flee their homes, especially after the recent Yelwata attack on Guma LGA in Benue State that claimed the lives of over 200 people. This led to the displacement of people who are currently taking refuge in some primary schools in the state.
“That is why, in acknowledgment of the fact that there exist a number of IDPs in those areas, the state government was prompt in sending relief materials to IDPs to help cushion the effects of the hardship that they are passing through.
“The government is not stopping at that; it is working out modalities to ensure another distribution of relief materials, even as the government is more interested in ensuring that the people return to their homes, considering that we are in the farming season.
Ahemba stated further that IDPs whose communities were not directly affected by the attacks have begun to resettle; however, many of the people still require adequate security to return home.
He acknowledged that the presence of IDPs in primary school facilities was disrupting academic activities and appealed for more time to address the issue.
Ahemba explained that the government has already sent relief materials to IDPs and is working out modalities to ensure another distribution to ameliorate their sufferings.
“We are happy that a number of the IDPs whose communities were not really in danger have returned to their homes, but we still have some who require adequate security to return home,” Ahemba said.
The SSA also highlighted the government’s efforts in the education sector, stating that the state government has approved the recruitment of 4,700 teachers to be posted across primary schools in the state.
“The new leadership of SUBEB under Dr Kassim Muh’d Kassim is building from what his predecessor started.
“The Teachers Service Commission has also recruited 718 teachers, and the governor has directed that additional teachers be employed to complete the earlier target of 1,500 teachers for secondary schools.”
He commended citizens of the state for their peaceful conduct during President Bola Tinubu’s visit to Lafia, where he commissioned several legacy projects, including a flyover and underpass projects, dualised Lafia-Shendam road, and a multi-billion naira state secretariat.
Ahemba expressed gratitude on behalf of Governor Sule, saying, “I want to express the heartfelt appreciation of Governor Abdullahi Sule to the citizens of the state over their peaceful conduct before, during, and after President Bola Tinubu’s visit to Lafia.
“The president’s visit also included the flagging off of the distribution of operational vehicles to security agencies, which is in line with Governor Sule’s commitment to ensuring citizen protection.”
He noted that the president was impressed with the level of transformation in the state under the governor’s visionary leadership.
