The United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina J. Mohammed, has concluded high-level visits to Zamfara and Benue States as part of efforts to strengthen development cooperation, promote gender equality, and assess humanitarian conditions in affected communities.
She was received in Gusau on April 9 by Zamfara State Governor, H.E. Dr. Dauda Lawal, alongside members of his cabinet, and later in Makurdi on April 10 by Benue State Governor, H.E. Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Alia.
During her engagements, the Deputy Secretary-General, accompanied by members of the United Nations Country Team in Nigeria, advocated stronger support for the Reserved Seats for Women Bill, stressing the importance of increased women’s participation in political leadership and national development.
In Zamfara State, Mohammed reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to supporting the North-West region in addressing key development challenges, including education, healthcare, agriculture, gender equality, climate action, and solid mineral development. She also visited a solid mineral mining site in Kadiri community, Maru Local Government Area, and held discussions with wives of Northern Governors.
In Benue State, the Deputy Secretary-General visited internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, including the Makurdi Mega IDP Camp, where she expressed solidarity with communities affected by violence and climate-related challenges. At Yelewata, a community impacted by recent attacks, she listened to women recount their experiences and emphasized the need for resilience, dignity, and peacebuilding.
Displaced persons at the Makurdi camp expressed gratitude for ongoing support from partners such as UNICEF Nigeria and IOM Nigeria, while also appealing for stronger interventions to enable safe return to their ancestral lands. They called for improved access to livelihoods, education, and healthcare services.
In response to the needs of children in the camp, UNICEF pledged to provide desks and chairs to improve learning conditions in makeshift classrooms.
At the Government House in Makurdi, Governor Hyacinth Alia outlined his administration’s development priorities, while Mohammed reaffirmed the United Nations’ readiness to continue supporting Benue State’s humanitarian and development efforts.
The visit highlights the UN’s ongoing commitment to addressing insecurity, displacement, and development challenges while promoting inclusive governance and sustainable development across Nigeria.