A dispute has erupted between Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia and Terseer Ugbor, House of Representatives member for Kwande/Ushongo constituency, over the recent seizure of palliatives intended for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Kwande.
Governor Alia explained that the palliatives were confiscated due to concerns about possible diversion. The items, which were supposed to be delivered directly to Kwande LGA, were found being offloaded at a private residence in Makurdi instead. On September 11, 2024, state officials, acting on the governor’s orders, intercepted two trucks carrying the palliatives, which were facilitated by Ugbor’s office and approved by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). The items were then transported to the Government House in Makurdi.
Ugbor has threatened legal action if the palliatives are not returned, asserting that the proper procedures with NEMA had been followed. He explained that Makurdi was chosen as a temporary storage location due to the lack of a warehouse in Kwande. Ugbor has set a deadline of September 17 for the release of the materials, citing ongoing costs related to the truck’s detention.
Governor Alia, through his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, clarified that the seizure was intended to ensure transparency and proper distribution, emphasizing that all aid for vulnerable groups should be processed through the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA). Alia also requested an explanation for why the palliatives were being offloaded in Makurdi rather than going directly to Kwande.
The palliatives in question included essential supplies such as rice, garri, mattresses, and mosquito nets, which were part of ongoing efforts to assist IDPs in Kwande.