Benue Gov lauds VSF for completion of N100m Naka water works
The Governor of Benue State, Rev Fr Hyacinth Iormem Alia, 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 waterborne diseases in the local government.
A statement by Bridget Ikyado, Principal Special Assistant to the Governor on Media, Publicity and Strategic Communications, said Governor Alia made the commendation on Tuesday.
He spoke when a delegation from the VSF, led by the Special Adviser, Programmes and Operations, Barrister 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 the in spite of the security challenges.
“The over N100 million Naka water works project and other projects embarked on in the state are worth commendation, and 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 other parts of the state like Kwande and Oju local government areas.
She said the Naka water works, which gulped over a hundred million naira, is projected to be completed in four weeks.
The official said that the water works would undergo 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 programme was designed to be executed from 2023 to 2025, in seven 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 of it kind of comprehensive humanitarian programme in Nigeria”, she added.
The Special Adviser disclosed that for Humanitarian and Health Services, Guma, Logo, Gwer West, Konshisha, Ado and Oju, Obi and Kwande LGAs have benefitted from the intervention which has touched majority of IDPs in the state.
“We have various interventions from different sectors across the state, some are in Medicals, Health, Agric input, Rehabilitation of Health Care Facilities, among others.”
