Feed Displaced Families in Benue, Nigeria

Every Tuesday morning, Mr. Terna (name changed) now joins a long line of displaced families waiting for food at the Makurdi IDP camp. He stands patiently, clutching a small bag that will carry home whatever food is available that day. It is a line he never imagined he would one day join.

For more than twenty years, Terna was a farmer in Benue State, proudly cultivating yam, maize, rice, and soybeans. Each harvest fed his family and supplied local markets. "People came to my farm to buy food," he told our team. "Now, I wait for someone to give me food."

Those words stayed with us long after we left. Benue has long been known as the "Food Basket of Nigeria," yet years of violent conflict have displaced hundreds of thousands of people, forcing many farming families to abandon their land and livelihoods. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Benue remains one of Nigeria's most affected states by internal displacement, while the World Food Programme warns that nearly 35 million Nigerians are projected to face acute food insecurity in 2026 as conflict, climate shocks, and economic hardship continue to drive hunger.

Behind every statistic is someone like Terna—a hardworking father who never expected to depend on humanitarian assistance. At GoGreen, we have met many families whose greatest loss is not only their homes but also the dignity that came from providing for themselves. Through our ongoing outreach in the Makurdi IDP camps, we have distributed food and essential relief materials to vulnerable households, offering immediate support while reminding families that they are not forgotten.

Yet every distribution reveals the same reality: the need continues to grow. Many former farmers dream not of charity, but of the day they can return to their fields, harvest their crops, and once again provide for their families with pride. 

Before we said goodbye, Terna looked toward the horizon and quietly said, "I don't want to spend the rest of my life receiving food. I want to grow it again." That hope is worth protecting.

Your generosity helps GoGreen provide lifesaving food, clean water, hygiene supplies, and emergency relief to displaced families today while giving them the strength to rebuild tomorrow. Together, we can help ensure that the hands which once fed a nation will one day harvest hope again.

Links:

• WFP Food hunger report