Benue state Bureau for International Cooperation and Development (BICD) Monday stated that the state government is making notable strides in rebuilding global trust and accelerating development, particularly in the resettlement and empowerment of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

Speaking during a courtesy visit by members of the Correspondents Chapel in Makurdi, Dr. Leo Angelo Viashima, director general of BICD, stated that the agency has attracted over ₦85 billion in development funding since its inception.

He said in a bid to promote inclusive employment, the government through BICD has partnered with various organisations to ensure that 10% of all recruitment slots are reserved for qualified IDPs across participating agencies.

He also noted that several organisations have aligned their interventions with the presidential report on the Yelewata crisis, which has a dedicated response budget of N11 billion.

“When we came into government, we brought in the UN. Benue became a point of interest.

“Today, eight United Nations agencies are actively operating in the state, with more than ten others expressing interest,” he said.