Yelwata Community Needs Not Sell Farm Inputs - SSG

The Alia administration has distributed yield enhancing agricultural inputs to the residents of the Yelwata community in Benue State to alleviate hardship faced by the survivors of attack where over two hundred lives and millions of naira property reportedly lost in 2025! 

Presenting the farm inputs to the population in Yelwata, March 25th, 2026, Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Deaconess Deborah Aber Esq counseled the recipients of the materials on the need to avoid selling the items meant to ameliorate hardship as well as boost production of food for greater consumption.

The SSG counseled recipients of the package put together by First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the two governments of Benue and Nasarawa States including other humanitarian donors to use the materials well for cushioning effects of the attack! 

The yields boosting inputs included the organic fertilizer, herbicides, improved maize, okra and spinach seeds to enhance production.

The SSG clarified also that the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security as one of the complimenting organs of the government's programme on Yelwata resettlement shared the responsibility to procure the inputs for the distribution.

Deacon Aber stated equally that other interventions like the construction of houses, drilling of boreholes, support for food and nutrition, supply of water, providing livelihood restoration, resettlement and sustainability and the cash transfers programs were already handled by other implementing organs of the state government.

Aber assured of government's commitment for the wellbeing of the affected population and said, the challenges facing the people would be addressed in line with the administration's policy for the community. 

Commissioner of Agriculture and Food Security, Hon Chief Benjamin Ashaver said, the items were sufficient to cover the two thousand farmers trained by the Ministry for the purpose designed about the community.

Represented by desk officer for the programme in the Ministry, Mr. Beeior Victor, the Commissioner disclosed that one thousand two hundred farmers residing in Yelwata got the farm inputs while the eight hundred also trained farmers taking shelter in the International Market, Makurdi would equally benefit from the package to boost the farm activities during the season.

Ikyapa Timothy represented Elder Fidelis Dze, leader of the Yelwata community's Elders Forum. Elder Dze thanked the nation's First Lady and the Alia administration for the intervention and care of the community.

 He assured of proper use of the materials aimed at making the program not frustrated He expressed concern however that the armed herders parade on the fringes of the community to the extent that tendency exists for increasing real security concerns for life and property likely to affect the programme!

He concluded that since the farmers were not sure of their safety amidst presence of the armed herders, the authorities need to take tougher action for confidence to grow in the minds of the affected farming population. According to him, the security measure would encourage good use of the materials to achieve the target set and enhance security for life and property of the people.