The Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) on Monday lamented
the donation of 250 bags of spoilt beans to internally displaced persons
(IDPs) in the state as palliatives from the Federal Government.
The agency also lamented the influx of more than 10,000 refugees into the state, as well as more IDPs into the camps.
The
National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced
Persons had donated the beans to the IDPs on Monday in Makurdi, on
behalf of the Federal Government.
But when asked to comment,
Governor Samuel Ortom said he was not yet aware that spoilt beans had
been donated to IDPs in the state.
The governor, who promised to
investigate the matter, however, said the state had received three
trailers of rice from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and
that the state was still expecting more from Dangote Foundation.
He appreciated those that had delivered and those that were on their way to delivering and praised them for their gesture.
But
Emmanuel Shior, Executive Secretary, SEMA, who earlier disclosed that
he received the spoilt beans as well as other items on behalf of the
IDPs, expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for the care
and support to IDPs in the state.
The Accountant of SEMA, Steven
Bubwa, who represented the Executive Secretary at the occasion, said:
“They (the commission) brought to us items ranging from food and
non-food items, including 216 bags of beans, which was almost spoilt and
we took permission from them to share.”
When Daily Independent
sought the attention of Bashir Garba, the National Commissioner of the
Commission, to comment on the alleged ‘spoilt beans’, he ignored our
correspondent and walked briskly to his waiting car and zoomed off.
Earlier,
Bashir explained that the team was in Benue to support persons
displaced from their homes and forced to live in their host
communities.
He said: “As an agency mandated to provide care and
maintenance to these vulnerable groups, we will continue to do our best
to make their lives better.
“We thank Mr. President for his support and commitment towards alleviating the sufferings of vulnerable people.”
Items
donated to the IDPs include 355 bags of rice, 56 bags of garri, 256
bags of millet, 300 gallons of palm oil, 23 bags of iodized salt, 71
cartons of tomato paste, and 65 cartons of Maggi.
Some of the
non-food items are assorted drugs, 1500 mats, 1000 pieces of blankets,
80 cartons of detergents, 80 cartons of toilet soap, 85 dozens of
bathroom slippers of various sizes, and 800 plastics.
