The United Nations (UN), on Friday, commended the Benue Government’s implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) model.

The UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, gave the commendation at a stakeholders’ engagement meeting at the Benue Government House in Makurdi on Friday.

She said Benue had a critical role to play, not only in feeding the country but also in generating livelihoods, enterprises, and broader prosperity.

She said that progress was being made in the state, though in a very difficult context.

“Insecurity has disrupted lives, weakened livelihoods, eroded trust, and undermined the foundations for peace and development.

“The efforts being made to pursue durable solutions for displaced families, including through access to agricultural land and opportunities for self-reliance, reflect the kind of joined-up leadership this moment demands.

“This is how the SDGs are advanced in practice: through integrated action that connects humanitarian response to long-term development, restores agency, reduces dependency and leaves no one behind.

“With sustained leadership, stronger partnerships and continued investment in livelihoods and value chains, Benue is well placed to translate its assets into more inclusive and resilient growth.

“The UN stands ready to support these efforts in ways that are practical, coordinated and aligned behind State priorities,” she said.

Mrs Mohammed expressed her condolences to the families of those killed in the recent attacks in the state, including in Mbalom in Gwer East LGA and in Yelwata.

She said the state required not only a response to security issues but also a broader commitment to peacebuilding.

According to her, this starts at the grassroots, strengthens early warning and response, rebuilds trust across communities, and creates the conditions for reconciliation.

She added that for peace to thrive, there must be justice and accountability, noting that without them, peace remains fragile and reconciliation incomplete.

Mrs Mohammed promised to support the state in sustained investment in human capital, especially in children and young people.

“A resilient education system is therefore not only a social priority; it is a foundation for long-term peace, inclusion and recovery.

“We stand ready to work with Benue State to strengthen education data, planning and service delivery, including in hard-to-reach and displacement-affected areas,” she said.

In his remarks, Governor Hyacinth Alia said Benue, as the food basket of the nation, had stability that was directly linked to the stability of Nigeria’s food systems and West Africa’s broader supply chains.

Mr Alia noted that armed herders’ attacks had forced more than 500,000 persons out of their homes, thereby causing a serious humanitarian crisis in the state.

He said his administration had provided sustained support to internally displaced persons and developed shelters and critical infrastructure in affected communities.

“We launched durable solutions and allocated farmlands and facilitated the return of displaced households to productive life,” the governor said.

On the Yelewata attack, he said that with support from the federal government and other sources, they had built houses, provided water and education, and supported livelihoods and healthcare services.

“Your Excellency, Benue is ready. Ready to lead. Ready to partner and deliver results that matter, not just for our people, but as a model for Nigeria and the global community.

“What we seek is not charity, but collaboration. Not isolated projects, but integrated systems. Not temporary relief, but lasting transformation.

“Together, we can turn vulnerability into resilience, displacement into opportunity, and potential into prosperity. We invite the United Nations to walk this journey with us,” Mr Alia said. 

(NAN)