In 1999, the Government of Benue State created the Ministry of Water Resources and Environment in accordance with Section 24 of the Federal Ministry of Environment Act and Chapter 131 of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1990.

The Forestry Department joined from the then Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources in 2007. The Climate Change Department was created in April 2024 by the pronouncement of His Excellency the Executive Governor of Benue State, Reverend Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia.