Paula Pace, the Chief of Mission for the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Nigeria, stated on Friday that competition for resources is a major driver of conflicts in the country.
During an interaction with journalists at the Ortese Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, she highlighted that Nigeria’s population growth is not matched by a corresponding increase in resources, exacerbating tensions.
The IOM representative was in Benue State for a two-day visit, which included inspections of IDP camps in Mbayion and Ortese, both established by the IOM.
She said, “We are also looking at the root causes of the crisis. I believe that it is because the population is increasing while the resources are the same. So, there is a fight for resources.
“There is more work to be done in terms of empowering people to enable them to survive. We will bring the private sector in Nigeria and other places to see if they can come and create jobs and income for the people.
“I have seen some improvement. The last time I came I saw congested camps but this time, there are more dignified camps. There is so much to be done and that is why I came to assess and see how we can support the Benue State Governor and the communities to make a difference in 2025.
“So, we hope to work more and attract more partners to work with us in strengthening more emergency response as well as prevention, especially in areas of flooding which could be prevented. We have done volunteer training for the IDPs and the host communities. So, we are in this together to give the people more hope to realize their rights.”
Earlier, James Iorpuu, the Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency, expressed gratitude to the IOM for allocating resources and collaborating with other partners to address the humanitarian challenges faced by internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the state.
