By Abdullahi Lukman
Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has commissioned a new water treatment plant in Naka, headquarters of Gwer-West Local Government Area, to boost access to clean water for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and host communities.
The facility, with a capacity to supply 500,000 litres of potable water per day, is expected to ease persistent water shortages affecting residents and displaced families in the area.
Represented at the event by Deputy Governor Sam Ode, the governor said the project would significantly improve living conditions for vulnerable populations, particularly those in IDP camps.
The project was funded by the European Union through its humanitarian arm, European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), in partnership with the International Organization for Migration and the Benue State Government.
During the visit, the delegation interacted with displaced persons at the UBE camp and oversaw the handover of 600 newly completed shelters at a new IDP camp in Naka.
The shelters, also funded by ECHO, form part of a broader intervention delivering 960 housing units, with construction ongoing on the remaining 360 units.
Officials said the water project and housing initiative are designed to improve humanitarian support and provide safer, more dignified living conditions for displaced persons and surrounding communities.