By Bridget Tikyaa
The Benue State House of Assembly on Friday commended the Bureau for International Cooperation and Development (BICD) for attracting funds worth more than ₦85 billion to the state.
Mr Peter Uche (APC/Guma 1), Chairman of the House Committee on Sustainable Development Goals and Donor Agencies, gave the commendation during an oversight visit to the BICD office in Makurdi.
Uche said that the House was impressed with the management of the BICD led by Director General Aondoaseer Leonard Viashima.
The lawmaker said the management has handled the activities of the office effectively, thereby resulting in the improvement of the lives of the Benue people.
The committee further passed a vote of confidence on the DG of BICD and the Gov. Hyacinth Alia for improving the living conditions of the Benue people.
Also, Mr Matthew Damkor (APC/Tiev State Constituency) urged the agency to do more now that they have budgetary provisions.
Earlier, Viashima said BICD has achieved several milestones, including facilitating high-level engagements, counterpart funding, and partnerships with international organisations.
The BIDC director general said that the agency has attracted funds worth about ₦85 billion in materials and cash, such as 4,047,750 bed nets, for distribution across the state.
He said they also facilitated the reactivation of a dormant IFAD project and signed MoUs with several organisations, including the establishment of internally displaced persons farms.
He said the Bureau has also conducted a humanitarian needs assessment, facilitated the declaration of Benue State as a humanitarian state, and secured enlistment of the state in the Solutions for Displaced Persons Project.
“Additionally, the BICD has facilitated over 15,000 short-term and 145 full-time employments for Benue indigenous in the humanitarian and development space and has hosted diplomatic visits from several international organisations.
“The Bureau remains committed to fostering collaboration, promoting transparency, and maximising the impact of development initiatives for the benefit of all Benue citizens,” he added.
