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Author: Nicholas Dechi

  • 2,600 killed in 50 Benue communities attacks in one year – Amnesty International

    2,600 killed in 50 Benue communities attacks in one year – Amnesty International

    Attacks

    By Nicholas Dechi

    Makurdi, June 26, 2024 (NAN) 2,600 persons, mostly women and children, have been killed following attacks on 50 Benue communities between January 2023 and February 2024, Amnesty International says.

    Amnesty International Programme Director, Mrs Barbara Magaji, disclosed this during a photo exhibition and news conference on Wednesday, in Makurdi.

    Magaji further said 18 out of the 23 local government areas (LGAs) in the state, were constantly under security threats by armed attackers.

    “These attacks are significantly affecting food security and livelihoods because the affected communities are farmers and displacement make them unable to carry out any farming activity.

    “These displacements are having significant and adverse effects on the right to livelihoods, and depriving thousands of children of the right to education and development.

    “As of March 2023 when the last counting and documentation was done, the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps and host communities accommodated a total of 489,245 IDPs,” Magaji said.

    She further quoted the state’s Ministry of Education and the Teaching Service Board as saying that, at least 55 schools had been destroyed by armed bandits or closed down due to insecurity, leaving hundreds of children out of school.

    She stressed the need for Nigerian authorities to end the attacks in Benue because they had a duty to protect lives.

    She maintained that governments at all levels must ensure that these attacks were investigated and justice given to victims and their families.

    “Nigerian authorities must ensure that suspected perpetrators of human rights abuses are brought to justice through fair trial.

    “Nigerian authorities must investigate the security lapses that enabled gunmen to carry out attacks and get away with it.

    “People who are displaced must be provided with adequate humanitarian support, standard of living and children’s education must be continued,” Magaji said.

    Meanwhile, in his goodwill message, the Commanding Officer, 72 Special Forces Battalion, Lt Col. R.B. Kefas, who was represented by Lt Danjuma Abba, stated that criminality had been curtailed in all the crisis prone areas, promising that the efforts would be sustained.

    Also, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Steve Yabanet, who was represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr Okon Asuquo, said that the police was working round the clock to reduce criminality to the barest minimum in the state. (NAN) (www.nannews.g)

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    Edited by Nyisom Fiyigon Dore

  • NGO to ensure availability, accessibility, affordability of Vitamin A foods

    NGO to ensure availability, accessibility, affordability of Vitamin A foods

    Food

    By Nicholas Dechi

    Makurdi, June 25, 2025 (NAN) Global Alliance For Improved Nutrition (GAIN), says it is working assiduously to ensure nutritious foods enriched with vitamin A are available, accessible and affordable to Nigerians in all seasons.

    The Senior Project Manager, GAIN Supply Chain for Commercialisation, Mr Godwin Ehiabhi, disclosed this during the training of trainers on improving nutrition and value addition for nutrient-enriched staples
    on Tuesday, in Makurdi.

    Ehiabhi reiterated that GAIN’s goal was to make nutritious foods, specifically Vitamin A enriched diets, available and affordable to all Nigerians in these hard times.

    He further disclosed that GAIN was strengthening nutrition in priority staple foods, adding that the project was a five-year project that began in 2021 that would end in December 2025.

    “It is aimed at solving the problem of malnutrition in Nigeria. 60 to 65 per cent are malnourished in Nigeria.

    “In Benue, implementation is in four Local Government Areas (LGAs), namely Gboko, Makurdi, Gwer and Otukpo.

    “The project has three components, bio-fortification, workforce nutrition and business support,” Ehiabhi explained.

    According to him, bio-fortification is to train farmers for extension services and free input distribution, while workforce nutrition is to enable households adopt nutrition in their homes, encourage cooking demonstrations, social behavioural change campaign and home garden.

    He further stated that business support was for processors and registered farm businesses along the vitamin A food value chain, as well as capacity building and award of grants to deserving businesses.

    He explained that to ensure sustainability of the project, the trainers would step down the training or knowledge acquired to other LGAs that were not captured by the project.

    According to the Policy and Advocacy Associate, GAIN, Ms Toromade Olutayo, 90 per cent of Nigerians are part of the one billion people in Africa that cannot afford a healthy diet.

    Olutayo further noted that there was a 62.2 per cent prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in Benue.

    Some beneficiaries, Mr Sughnen Osugh, Ms Bridget Idyu and Erdoo Jato, appreciated GAIN for impacting their lives, adding that it had helped them to enhance their income. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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    Edited by Nyisom Fiyigon Dore

  • Breastfeeding: Organisation advocates 6 months maternity leave in Benue

    Breastfeeding

    By Nicholas Dechi

    Makurdi, June 20, 2024 (NAN) Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), has called on the Benue Government to approve the extension of maternity leave from three to six months to enable nursing mothers to exclusively breastfeed their babies.

     

    Dr Terfa Kene, a board member of CS-SUNN made the call during advocacy visits to the State Head of Service, Dr Moses Ode and the Commissioner for Education, Dr Frederick Ikyaan, on Wednesday in Makurdi.

     

    He noted that six months was the recommended period for mothers to exclusively breast feed their babies, hence the need for the extension of maternity leave from three to six months.

     

    Kene said that such a long period of exclusive breastfeeding could enhance the bond between mothers and their infants.

     

    He pointed out that breastfeeding mothers in other states were already enjoying the privilege, and it would do the state a lot of good if it followed suit.

     

    Meanwhile, the Head of Service (HoS), Ode, commended CS-SUNN for taking up the responsibility of advocating for nutrition, adding that his office would do its best to give the advocacy necessary support.

     

    He pledged to collaborate with CS-SUNN to enable it to achieve its set objectives.

     

    Ode promised to intimate Gov. Hyacinth Alia on the gains that would accrue to the state if it gave nutrition the desired attention.

     

    Also, the Commissioner for Education and Knowledge Management, Dr Ikyaan, said that all the issues raised by the organisation bordered on the advancement of humanity, hence, the ministry would subscribe to them.

     

    Earlier, Mrs Rachel Ityonzughul, the State Coordinator, CS-SUNN, disclosed that seven states had already approved six months maternity leave for breastfeeding mothers, stating that two other states were also awaiting approval.

     

    Ityonzughul called for the creation of the Department of Nutrition in ministries, adding that budgetary provisions should be adequately made for nutrition.

     

    She advised the Ministry of Education to encourage students to take up career in nutrition.

     

    Mr Moses Levah, the Permanent Secretary (PS), Budget and Economic Planning Commission and his counterpart in Service Welfare, Mr Terna Ayu, commended CS-SUNN for their efforts in nutrition advocacy.

    The duo expressed optimism that the six months maternity leave would become a reality in Benue.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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    Edited by Florence Onuegbu / Isaac Ukpoju

  • Failure to implement nutrition policies may cost Benue over N29bn

    Failure to implement nutrition policies may cost Benue over N29bn

    Nutrition

    By Nicholas Dechi

    Makurdi, June 19, 2024 (NAN) Benue State Government may use ₦29,271,692 on treatment of malnourished children yearly, if it fails to implement nutrition policies.

    The Programme Officer, Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), Mr Ambrose Evnoesor, stated this on Wednesday in Makurdi, during a meeting on implementation of six months Maternity Leave with pay for women of reproductive age in Benue.

    Evnoesor said that lack of good nutrition remained a leading cause of death, stunted growth, poor development and diminished productivity in adulthood.

    He said according to the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, 21 per cent of children under-five in Benue are stunted, 23 per cent are underweight and 13.6 per cent are wasted.

    He expressed worry over the lack of a Strategic Plan of Action for Nutrition (SPAN), to provide a multi-sectoral approach to tackling the problem of malnutrition among women and children.

    He however, commended Benue government for improving on its budgetary allocation for Nutrition activities.

    Evnoesor therefore, urged the government to implement the six months maternity leave for nursing mothers to enable them take adequate care of their children’s nutritional needs.

    Meanwhile, the Director-General of the Budget and Economic Planning Commission, Dr Jerome Andohol, acknowledged the significance of the policy in promoting gender equality, supporting mothers and ensuring the well-being of children.

    Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the commission, Mr Moses Levah, Andohol, said he was excited to explore ways in which the commission and CS-SUUN could work together to make the policy a success.

    He further commended CS-SUNN, UNICEF and other partners, for supporting the state government in recognising the importance of the policy.

    A Member of the Benue State House of Assembly and Chairman Standing Committee on Health, Mr Thomas Dugeri, called for full implementation of budgetary allocations, not only for nutrition, but other health sectors.

    According to Dugeri, the state assembly is monitoring and ensuring implementation of the budget for the overall good of the state.

    He emphasised the need for the state to approve the policy document on nutrition because of its importance. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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    Edited by Nyisom Fiyigon Dore

  • European Investment Bank to build world class fruit market in Benue

    European Investment Bank to build world class fruit market in Benue

    Roads

    By Nicholas Dechi

    Makurdi, June 11, 2024 (NAN) The European Investment Bank will soon construct a World Class Fruits Market in Benue.

    The Benue State Coordinator, Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) in Benue, Mr Stephen Numbeve, disclosed this when members of the Correspondents’ Chapel, Benue Chapter, paid him a courtesy visit on Tuesday in Makurdi.

    Numbeve said that the bank chose to build a world class market to be dealing basically with fruits in the state so as to tackle post harvest losses.

    He further stated that the market would either be built in Vandeikya Local Government Area (LGA), Ihugh to be precise, or at Wurukum Market in Makurdi.

    He disclosed that feasibility studies had already been carried out on the project.

    He also disclosed that the agency would construct 53 roads across the 23 LGAs of the state.

    The RAAMP helmsman pointed out that the aim was to open up rural roads to enable farmers access markets easily, stressing that it would also assist in tackling insecurity.

    “If the roads are opened up, it will enable security personnel to move to security flash points with ease,” Numbeve said.

    He also said that RAAMP would construct six warehouses across the state, emphasising that as soon as disbursement was done, work would commence in earnest.

    According to him, the agency’s workers were not paid for many months by his predecessor, but on assumption of office, he paid and cleared all the arrears.

    Earlier , Chairman of the chapel, Mr Emmanuel Antswen congratulated Numbeve on his appointment .

    Antswen sought partnership of RAAMP with the chapel in projecting activities of the agency. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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    Edited by Nyisom Fiyigon Dore

  • Gov. Alia unveils disease control machine, lab at FMC Makurdi

    Gov. Alia unveils disease control machine, lab at FMC Makurdi

    Machines

    By Nicholas Dechi

    Makurdi, June 11, 2024 (NAN) Gov. Hyacinth Alia of Benue, on Tuesday inaugurated a Molecular Laboratory and a Polymerase Chain Reaction machine at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Makurdi.

    The equipment and laboratory were donated by the U.S. Centre for Disease Control (U.S. CDC).

    Speaking during the ceremony, Alia said the gesture would go a long way in complementing government’s efforts at improving public health, particularly the HIV/AIDS.

    He pointed out that the partnership between the U.S. CDC and the Benue Ministry of Health, as well as other health agencies in the state, had been instrumental to the collective efforts at ending HIV, which is a public health threat.

    “Through the generous funds and technical assistance provided by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), we have made significant strides in strengthening our healthcare infrastructure and enhancing our capacity to combat this epidemic.

    “This state-of-the-art facility, made possible through the support of the U.S. CDC, will play a crucial role in our efforts to diagnose, treat and prevent HIV/AIDS in our communities,” Alia said.

    The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Yanmar Ortese, appreciated APIN Public Health Initiative and the U.S. CDC for donating the cutting-edge PCR machine to the FMC.

    Ortese also expressed gratitude to the PEPFAR team for its unwavering support to the state in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

    “Your investment in our healthcare system has been instrumental in transforming HIV from a death sentence to a manageable chronic disease.

    “Through PEPFAR’s support, over 180,000 people living with HIV are now accessing life-saving antiretroviral treatment across 264 health facilities in our state.

    “The prevention of mother-to-child transmission programme has also ensured the birth of approximately 8,000 HIV-negative babies annually,” Ortese said.

    Meanwhile, the FMC Medical Director, Prof. Joseph Kortor, described the donation as a milestone.

    According to Kortor, it marks a significant step forward in the commitment to enhancing healthcare services and bolstering the capacity to combat infectious diseases in the state.

    Earlier, the Acting Country Director, U.S. CDC-Nigeria, Suzanne Theroux, presented a laboratory accreditation certificate number ISO15189:2012, to the medical director of FMC.

    Chief Executive Officer, APIN Public Health Initiative, Dr Prosper Okonkwo, thanked the U.S. CDC and the state government for always supporting FMC. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

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    Edited by Nyisom Fiyigon Dore

  • Sports Commissioner halts SWAN elections in Benue

    Sports Commissioner halts SWAN elections in Benue

    Election

    By Nicholas Dechi

    Makurdi, June 6, 2024 (NAN) Mr Terkimbi Ikyange, the Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Creativity in Benue, has directed all factions of   Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in the state to halt  planned  elections with immediate effect.

    The commissioner gave the directive in a statement on Thursday in Makurdi.

    Ikyange said that the continued existence of factions of SWAN in the state, had greatly affected the coverage of sporting activities in the state.

    He said that the directive is aimed at allowing time to wade into the matter with the view to resolving it.

    The commissioner said that he would soon meet with the two factions in the state to amicably resolve the matter.

    Ikyange appreciated members of the association in the state for their understanding, and expressed the hope that the two factions would abide by the directive without compromise. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

    DND/JPE

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    Edited by Joseph Edeh