Gov. Hyacinth Alia of Benue has lauded the Victims Support Fund (VSF) for the completion of the Naka water works project in Gwer- West Local Government Area of the state.The water project is expected to address the problem of access to potable water and waterbone diseases in the local government.
This is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by Mrs Bridget Ikyado, Principal Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Publicity and Strategic Communications.
He spoke when a delegation from the VSF, led by the Special Adviser, Programmes and Operations, Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji, paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Makurdi.
The Governor also commended the VSF team’s doggedness in carrying out projects in other parts of the state in spite of the security challenges.
“The over N100 million Naka water works project and other projects embarked in the state are worthy of commendation.
“I thank the team for the resilience and I pledge my administration’s full support to the projects,” he said.
Ealier, Akerele-Ogunsiji stated that the VSF, chaired by former Minister of Defence, Gen. Theopilus Danjuma (rtd), is involved in humanitarian interventions in Kwande and Oju local government areas.
She said the Naka water works projected to be fully completed in four weeks, is undergoing comprehensive rehabilitation to ensure that people have clean and potable water.
“We made available a security facility, also built accommodation for workers on site and made provision for solar power for the water works which provides 100,000 cubic litres of water per day though 50 fetching points,” she added.
Akerele-Ogunsiji said the visit was to brief the governor on their activities in the state.
She explained that the foundation had designed programmes that would respond to the needs of the people in 21 out of the 23 local Government Areas of the state.
Akerele-Ogunsiji said that the programmes were designed to be executed from 2023 to 2025, in seven strategic areas.
“The intervention covered seven strategic areas of food distribution, health and medical care, psycho-socio support and mental living, safety and shelter, water, hygiene and to provide support for primary healthcare centers.
“The VSF was established in 2014 to cater for victims of terrorism in Nigeria, with the operational base in the state for two years.
“It is to complement the Federal Government’s efforts in taking care of victims of terrorism.
“Terrorism has spread to the North Central that is why we are intervening, we have had many interventions in the state. It is the first comprehensive humanitarian programme in Nigeria”, she added.
The special adviser disclosed that the VSF had provided humanitarian and health services in Guma, Logo, Gwer West, Konshisha, Ado, Oju, Obi and Kwande LGAs.
“People have benefitted from the interventions which have touched majority of IDPs in the state.
“We have various interventions from different sectors across the state, some are in medicals, health, agric inputs, rehabilitation of health care facilities, among others,” she added.
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