Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State and the House of Representatives member for Kwande/Ushongo constituency, Terseer Ugbor are bickering over the recent confiscation of palliatives intended for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Kwande.
The governor stated that the relief materials were seized due to concerns over possible diversion after they were discovered being offloaded at a private residence in Makurdi instead of being delivered directly to Kwande LGA, where they were originally intended.
On September 11, 2024, two trucks carrying the palliatives, which were facilitated by Ugbor’s office and approved by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), were intercepted by state officials acting on the governor’s orders. The items were subsequently transported to the Government House in Makurdi.
Meanwhile, Ugbor has threatened legal action if the palliatives are not released soonest.
Governor Alia, through his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, clarified that the palliatives were meant for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and vulnerable individuals in Kwande/Ushongo.
The governor emphasised that the seizure was not intended to divert the materials but was necessary to ensure transparency and proper distribution. He underscored that all aid meant for vulnerable groups must be processed through the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
Governor Alia has called on Ugbor to provide an explanation for why the materials were being offloaded in Makurdi at a private residence rather than proceeding directly to Kwande. He noted that the state government had been distributing similar palliatives to IDPs in Kwande on the same day.
Ugbor has expressed frustration over the incident, asserting that all proper procedures had been followed with NEMA. He explained that Makurdi was selected as a temporary storage location due to the absence of a warehouse in Kwande. Ugbor warned that legal action might be pursued if the materials are not released by September 17, citing ongoing costs related to the truck’s detention.
The palliatives included essential supplies such as bags of rice, garri, mattresses, and mosquito nets.