Alia, Where Is Our ₦4.386bn? Angry Benue IDPs Demand Answers
….As ATD Demands Accountability Over Alleged ₦4.386bn Donated for Benue IDPs, Asks Alia to Publish Spending Details
The Alliance for Truth and Democracy (ATD) has called on Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, to provide a detailed public account of funds reportedly donated for the welfare of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the state, alleging that approximately ₦4.386 billion received from various donors has not been fully accounted for.
In a statement signed by its President, Jerome Zoho, the group said growing public concern over the management of humanitarian donations necessitated greater transparency from the state government.
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According to the ATD, the donations followed the Yelewata killings and other violent attacks in Benue State, which left hundreds of people dead and thousands displaced, prompting intervention from government institutions, development partners and other donors.
The group listed the alleged donations to include ₦886 million from the European Union, ₦1.8 billion from international organisations, ₦1 billion from the Renewed Hope Initiative of Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, ₦500 million from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, ₦150 million from Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule, and ₦50 million from the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume.
ATD claimed that the total donations amounted to about ₦4.386 billion and questioned how the funds had been managed, alleging that there had been no comprehensive public disclosure of receipts, expenditures or beneficiaries.
The organisation said that despite the humanitarian support received, many displaced families in Benue State were still living under difficult conditions, facing food shortages, poor healthcare, inadequate shelter and uncertainty about their future.
According to the statement, the absence of detailed financial reports has continued to generate public concern and calls for accountability.
“ATD believes humanitarian funds should be managed with the highest level of transparency because they are intended solely for the welfare of victims affected by the crisis,” the statement said.
The group also recalled Governor Alia’s campaign promises to improve security and facilitate the return of displaced persons to their ancestral communities, arguing that many IDPs were yet to return home while attacks and displacement continued in parts of the state.
ATD maintained that the Benue State Government should publish a detailed report indicating the total amount of donations received, expenditures made, projects executed and the beneficiaries of the interventions.
Among its demands, the organisation called for the immediate publication of all humanitarian donations received for IDPs, disclosure of expenditure records, identification of implementing agencies and beneficiaries, an independent audit of the funds and regular public reports on relief interventions.
The group further encouraged internally displaced persons and civil society organisations to seek greater transparency regarding resources donated for humanitarian assistance, insisting that affected communities have a right to know how the funds intended for their welfare have been utilised.
ATD urged Governor Alia to address the concerns through an official public explanation, stating that openness and accountability would help strengthen public confidence in the management of humanitarian resources.
As of the time of filing this report, the Benue State Government had not publicly responded to the allegations and demands contained in the ATD statement.
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