Alia Government Begins Biometric Registration, New ID Cards for Benue IDPs

The Benue State Government, in partnership with development agencies, has launched a biometric verification and identity card issuance exercise for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) across the state.

The initiative comes after Governor Hyacinth Alia raised concerns during a 2024 meeting with the United States Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, led by Patrick Robinson, where he revealed that over 1.5 million displaced residents in the state lacked access to clean water and basic amenities.

Currently, IDPs are spread across 15 officially designated camps, while many others reside within host communities. Speaking on Monday during the monthly distribution of relief items to these camps, the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Dr. James Iorpuu, said the biometric registration would enhance proper documentation and ensure no displaced person is left out of government support programmes.

Represented by SEMA’s Head of Administration, Donald Komgbenda, Iorpuu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to restoring dignity and providing sustained support to displaced families under Governor Alia’s Renewed Hope agenda. He noted that, despite the immense challenges, the administration would continue to show compassion through practical interventions aimed at rebuilding lives and communities.

He further disclosed that the government, in collaboration with development partners, is implementing several community restoration projects. These include the drilling of solar-powered boreholes in returnee areas like Tatyough in Makurdi LGA, with support from UNHCR, and housing as well as water supply projects at Naka Dam in partnership with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

Dr. Iorpuu commended both local and international partners for their continued assistance and urged greater inter-agency cooperation, noting that their contributions are essential to achieving the state’s Durable Solutions Plan for displaced persons.