VIDEO: U.S. Missionary Alex Barbir accuses Benue Govt of sabotaging Yelwata rebuilding efforts after rejecting ₦300m market proposal
By Ishaya Ibrahim
An American Christian missionary, Alex Barbir, has accused the Benue State Government of sabotaging his efforts to rebuild Yelwata village, claiming it stems from his refusal to award part of the construction contract to government officials.
Barbir, founder of the humanitarian organization Building Zion, has already reconstructed modern homes for internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Yelwata. He said the project encountered obstacles after the state government allegedly insisted on handling the rebuilding of the village market at a cost of ₦300 million.
In a widely circulated video, Barbir rejected the proposed amount, questioning why reconstructing a market would cost ₦300 million. He argued that no village market in Nigeria is built as an edifice worth that sum, suggesting the project could be completed for far less.
He also condemned remarks by the Benue State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hon. Aondowase Kunde, who reportedly downplayed Barbir’s contributions by stating that only 18 uncompleted homes had been built. Barbir described the comment as shocking and deliberately false, asserting that dozens of homes have already been fully completed.
“Instead of using words of praise and uplift, he chose to spit on my efforts,” Barbir said in the video.
.
