The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Saturday distributed relief materials to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and vulnerable people in Kwande/Ushongo Federal Constituency of Benue State.
Performing the ceremony in Adikpo, Kwande Local Government Area of the State, NEMA Zonal Coordinator, Mr Eugene Nyelong, said the materials were facilitated by the member, representing the constituency, Mr Terseer Ugbor.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that a truck conveying palliatives meant for IDPs in the Kwande/Ushongo federal constituency was caught offloading same at a private residence along Kilometre 2 in Makurdi by Gov Hyacinth Alia.
NAN further reports that the governor upon discovery of the incident confiscated the truck and moved it to Government House to ascertain why palliatives meant for Kwande/Ushongo federal constituency were being offloaded in a private residence in Makurdi.
The Governor later handed over the truck to the EFCC and ICPC for full investigation but the issues were later resolved leading to the distribution of the same materials to the beneficiaries.
Nyelong said the federal government through NEMA was committed to meeting the minimum needs of those affected by emergencies and the vulnerable people too in the country.
He further commended the Benue State Government for ensuring fair and transparent distribution of the materials.
He said the sharing formula given by Mr Ugbor, was that the IDPs and vulnerable people in Kwande would receive 60 per cent of the materials while 40 per cent was for Ushongo.
Also speaking during the distribution, the Acting Executive Secretary of State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Sir James Iorpuu thanked the federal government for providing emergency response and fostering self-reliance for displaced and vulnerable persons in the federal constituency.
Iorpu also extended the appreciation of Benue State Government to Mr Ugbor for his efforts in lobbying for the materials for his constituents.
He said that due process should always be followed to avoid the controversies that came out prior to the distribution of the materials.
Representatives of Mr Ugbor led by Francis Ajai, the DSS, EFCC, and traditional rulers were amongst those who witnessed the distribution.
The materials distributed include bags of rice, garri, seasoning cubes, groundnut oil, sachet tomatoes, mosquito nets, wrappers and mattresses.(NAN)
