The Benue State Government, in partnership with Catholic Relief Services (CRS) and other stakeholders, has launched a 12-month Rapid Assistance for People Impacted by Disaster (RAPID) project to address the humanitarian needs of conflict-affected communities across the state. 

The project was launched on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting held at Benue Metropolitan Hotel, Makurdi, bringing together representatives of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Local Government Councils, traditional institutions and community leaders to deliberate on effective implementation and coordination. 

The RAPID project will cover 19 communities across Gwer West, Agatu, Kwande and Logo Local Government Areas, with interventions targeting food assistance, nutrition, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), shelter, protection, disaster risk reduction and community engagement. 

Speaking at the meeting, the Director-General of the Benue State Bureau for International Cooperation and Development (BICD), Dr. Aondoaseer Leonard Viashima, emphasised the need for effective coordination, timely information sharing and collective ownership to ensure that assistance addresses the actual needs of affected communities and reaches the intended beneficiaries. 

Dr. Viashima urged participants to communicate the outcomes and commitments of the engagement to their respective principals, stressing that the success of the initiative would depend on sustained collaboration among government institutions, development partners and beneficiary communities. 

He reaffirmed BICD’s commitment to coordinating the partnership between the state government, CRS and other development partners, as well as supporting project monitoring to assess implementation progress and development impact. He also highlighted the Bureau’s role in facilitating additional development initiatives to advance the state’s development priorities. 

The stakeholders’ engagement concluded with a renewed commitment to sustained collaboration, open communication, and meaningful community participation in the implementation of the project. 

The RAPID initiative is expected to provide essential humanitarian assistance to vulnerable populations in the targeted communities while supporting resilience, recovery, and improved capacity to withstand future shocks. 

Juliana Okenyi, 

Information Officer, BIDC