The management of the Bureau for International Cooperation and Development (BICD) has disclosed that the state has been blacklisted by the international community, which is why no attention was given to the state‘s tragic humanitarian crises.
The Director General BICD Dr. Leo-Angelo Viashima who disclosed this why playing host to the correspondent chapel said with the coming of Governor Hyacinth Alia and the establishment of BICD, we are able to build trust with the international community and woo back 38 NGOs
According to him, „the Governor‘s idea of establishing BICD is to help in bringing visibility of the humanitarian crises to the global community, which in the last 10 years of the crises had not even condemned the attacks and killings of Benue people.
„The number One achievement of BICD was was getting the global attention on the humanitarian situation in the State, because even though the international community is there to save lives, if they don‘t trust you they can‘t give you any attention“
„so we started by bringing the immediate past UN representative into the state who saw the humanitarian situation and made a pronouncement that Benue has now become a State of interest to the UN community and since then we have 8 UN foot fort on ground who are helping the State government to address the basic needs of the IDPs“
Viashima said, „the 38 registered Non Governmental organizations on ground have increased their attention to the humanitarian crises, the presence of these NGOs has improve the revenue drive of the State and as well taken off the streets 134 youths as employees.
He informed that for an international organization to come to your State, such State must create an enabling environment through policies and Laws that they will lead them, based on this, the Benue State Government has signed Laws and Policies such as Benue State Youths Policy, Disability, Social Protection, Water Sanitation and Hygiene Laws for smooth operation.
The BICD boss futher disclosed that all is now set for the signing of the Internal Displaced persons policy which will give room for the return of the IDPs to their ancestral homes, adding that with this policy will akso outlines steps to follow because with all you Money and everything one single IDP can sue you for infringement on his or her rights if you return him or her without consent.
„Aside all these BICD have given instructions to all the 38 registered NGOs to ensure that all their ad hoc staff are local based and they have complied that is why at my last count 134 persons are already employed and our hotels in the State have move from 28 to 32 percent full night booked in the previous years to 57 percent full night booked out of the 56 week we have in a year.
„This scenario has engaged the minds of so many young people and will also boost the revenue drive and the state‘s economy, and I must tell you more NGOs are interested in coming and working with us.
While calling on all NGOs coming into the State to register with BICD, Viashima warned those operating in the State without registration to desist from such an act, saying that whatever they are doing will not be noticed by the government.
„On the whole, BICP is created as an arm of the State government to supervise the activities of government ministries, agencies and advise them on the proper way to engage the international organisations coming into the State for a smooth operation.
