$300m Benue IDP housing plan faces pushback as Alex Barbir insists on permanent resettlement (Video)

Alex Barbir has alleged that officials in Benue State presented him with a proposed $300 million intervention plan focused on housing for internally displaced persons (IDPs), a proposal he says he ultimately rejected on the grounds that it failed to address the underlying causes of displacement.

Barbir, who disclosed this while recounting his engagement with relevant stakeholders, claimed that parts of the proposal included spending about $15 million on the renovation of apartment units, alongside additional long-term rental commitments that would run into millions of dollars annually.

According to him, such arrangements were not sustainable and did not offer a lasting solution for families who had been forced to leave their homes due to insecurity and conflict. He argued that continuing to fund long-term rentals would only extend dependency rather than resolve the humanitarian crisis.

Instead, Barbir said he advocated for a more permanent approach, which would involve constructing new housing units for displaced persons and facilitating their return to their original communities.

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He maintained that durable resettlement, rather than temporary accommodation, was the only viable path toward restoring normalcy for affected populations.

He also expressed concern over what he described as internal disagreements with some officials involved in the planning process, suggesting that differing views on strategy may have complicated efforts to reach a consensus.

The allegations are based solely on Barbir’s account of the discussions, and there has been no independent confirmation of the claims or an official response from Benue State authorities at the time of reporting.