A recent ₦1 billion donation by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, intended to support internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Benue State, has triggered widespread protests among camp residents who claim they have seen no benefit from the funds.
The donation, which was publicly announced as part of the Renewed Hope Initiative, aimed to alleviate the hardship of thousands living in IDP camps across the state. However, protests erupted across several camps in Makurdi, Guma, and Logo local government areas, with IDPs accusing camp officials and political intermediaries of mismanagement and exclusion.
Carrying placards with inscriptions like “Where is our ₦1bn?” and “We are tired of empty promises”, the protesters lamented poor living conditions, lack of food, inadequate medical care, and insecurity, saying the announcement of such a large donation only added insult to their suffering.
“We heard on the radio and saw on TV that ₦1 billion was given to us. But nothing has changed. We still sleep on bare ground. No food, no medicine. Where is the money?” asked Miriam Tertsea, a mother of four at the Abagena IDP camp.
Human rights groups and civil society organizations have called for an independent audit and full transparency in the disbursement of the funds. “We cannot afford for aid meant for the most vulnerable Nigerians to become another political showpiece,” said Emmanuel Ukeyima, spokesperson for the Benue Civil Watch Network.
Efforts to get a response from the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the Office of the First Lady have so far been unsuccessful. However, sources within the state government suggest the funds were routed through intermediary NGOs and local authorities, complicating accountability.
Senator Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Initiative has made donations across several regions in Nigeria, positioning itself as a national humanitarian effort. The backlash in Benue highlights growing frustrations over the gap between high-profile announcements and actual impact on the ground.