A dispute has erupted between Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia and House of Representatives member Terseer Ugbor over the confiscation of palliatives meant for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Kwande. The controversy began when state officials intercepted two trucks of supplies facilitated by Ugbor’s office and approved by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
Governor Alia ordered the seizure of the palliatives after they were found being offloaded at a private residence in Makurdi, rather than delivered directly to Kwande as intended. The items were subsequently moved to the Government House in Makurdi.
Reacting to the seizure, Ugbor threatened legal action if the palliatives were not released. However, Alia, through his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, defended the action, citing concerns over transparency and the proper distribution of aid. The governor emphasized that all aid must be handled through the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to ensure accountability.
Alia questioned why the supplies were offloaded in Makurdi instead of being taken directly to Kwande. He noted that the state government had already been distributing similar palliatives to IDPs in Kwande on the same day.
Ugbor, expressing frustration, insisted that all procedures with NEMA had been followed and explained that Makurdi was used as a temporary storage site due to the lack of a warehouse in Kwande. He warned of legal action if the materials were not released by September 17, citing the ongoing costs related to the detained trucks.
The seized supplies included essential items such as rice, garri, mattresses, and mosquito nets.
News Editor