First Lady Remi Tinubu on July 29, 2025, announced a ₦1 billion donation to support families displaced by conflict in Benue State, presenting the funds during a visit to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in Makurdi.
The gesture, channeled through the Renewed Hope Initiative, aims to address the humanitarian crisis affecting over 400,000 people displaced by farmer-herder clashes and banditry since 2021, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). The donation includes cash, food supplies, and materials for shelter, with an initial ₦500 million disbursed for immediate relief, including 10,000 bags of rice and medical kits, and the remainder allocated for long-term rehabilitation projects like vocational training centers.
Governor Hyacinth Alia praised the contribution, noting it complements state efforts to resettle 50,000 families by 2026, though he highlighted a funding gap of ₦2 billion. The donation coincides with heightened insecurity, with 120 deaths reported in June 2025 per local security reports.
While the gesture has been lauded as a significant humanitarian act, some analysts from the Centre for Democracy and Development question its sustainability, suggesting it may serve political goodwill ahead of 2027 elections rather than addressing root causes like disarmament. The narrative of compassion is compelling, but its impact depends on coordinated government action and ongoing support beyond this one-time aid.