Governor Alia receives U.S. State Department delegation, reaffirms commitment to peace and safe return of IDPs

By Tolu Temidire

Governor of Benue State, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has received a high-level delegation from the United States Department of State at the Benue State Government House, Makurdi, during a strategic engagement focused on peacebuilding, security, religious freedom, humanitarian response, and durable solutions for internally displaced persons (IDPs).

The delegation, led by Mr. Bart Connolly, Senior Advisor, Bureau of African Affairs, and Mr. Isaac Six, Senior Advisor, Office of International Religious Freedom, said the visit was aimed at gaining a deeper understanding of the security and humanitarian situation in Benue State, engaging with the state government, faith leaders and civil society organisations, and exploring opportunities for stronger collaboration in promoting peace, protecting religious freedom and strengthening community resilience.

Welcoming the delegation, Governor Alia expressed appreciation to the United States Government for its longstanding partnership with Nigeria and Benue State, particularly in the areas of humanitarian assistance, healthcare, agriculture, peacebuilding and democratic governance.

He reaffirmed his administration's commitment to restoring peace and security across the state while pursuing the safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable return of internally displaced persons to their ancestral homes through improved security, reconciliation, livelihood restoration and sustainable community development.

The governor also acknowledged the support of the United States Government through the Spirit of America initiative, implemented by Search for Common Ground across four local government areas of the state. He noted that the initiative has strengthened community dialogue, promoted reconciliation and enhanced grassroots peacebuilding efforts, complementing the state's Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus approach.

Speaking during the meeting, the Director General of the Bureau for International Cooperation and Development (BICD), Dr. Aondoaseer Leo-Angelo Viashima, said the visit came at a critical time as Benue continues to deepen its Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus approach, strengthen community resilience and implement durable solutions that will enable displaced persons to return safely to their ancestral homes.

Leader of the U.S. delegation, Mr. Connolly, commended the Benue State Government for its openness and commitment to dialogue, noting that the visit provided an important opportunity to better understand the challenges facing communities in the state and identify areas for enhanced cooperation.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the United States Government to supporting initiatives that promote peace, religious freedom, humanitarian response and sustainable development.

The meeting was attended by members of the governor's Humanitarian-Development-Peace (HDP) Nexus team, including the Chief of Staff, Barr. Moses Atagher; Principal Private Secretary to the Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Chenge; Director General of BICD, Dr. Aondoaseer Leo-Angelo Viashima; other senior government officials; and officials of the United States Embassy in Nigeria.

The visit ended with both the Benue State Government and the United States Government reaffirming their commitment to strengthening collaboration in peacebuilding, conflict prevention, humanitarian coordination, religious freedom and the implementation of durable solutions that will enable displaced communities to return safely to their homes and rebuild their lives.