The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda Wednesday visited the internally displaced persons following the June 13th, 2025 attack at Yelewata in Guma local government area of Benue State.
The minister visited both the International Market housing the Displaced Persons from Yelewata and also interacted with others from previous attacks being camped at the IDPs Mega camp near Daudu in Guma.
Speaking during the visit, the minister expressed commitment of the federal government to ensure that those displaced by attacks get better condition.
He said he came to the state on the directive of the president to make assessment of the humanitarian situation in the state and report to him for appropriate action.
The minister noted that as one who had been displaced severally, he is aware of the hardship the IDPs are passing through.
He encouraged that, just he has been able to achieve in life despite the previous challenges, children displaced in the state will grow up to achieve greater things.
The Minister who was also at the launch of EU funded Supporting Sustainable Social Protection project in Nigeria, held at Government House in Makurdi, emphasised that the program is a “lifeline” for displaced families and marginalized communities, particularly in areas recently afflicted by violence and displacement.
Reflecting on a recent visit to crisis-affected regions in Benue, the Minister shared, “We saw sorrow in the eyes of mothers who lost everything… This project is our collective promise to say: ‘Never again.’”
The EU-supported initiative will bolster national efforts to deliver inclusive and responsive social protection, providing resources to those who have historically “fallen through the cracks of acceptance.”
According to the Minister, “it also represents President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to durable solutions and justice-driven governance.”
Key partners in attendance included EU Ambassador to Nigeria, representatives from UNICEF, the International Labour Organization (ILO), and local civil society groups.
Applauding their dedication, the Minister declared, “This support is felt not in documents but in the tents of the displaced and the dignity of widows.”
The Minister said, “Social protection is not an act of charity—it is an act of justice. Now is the time to act, not wait for another tragedy.”