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By: Ogine Gloria
The Chairman of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr Emmanuel Shior, yesterday, May 16, 2023, appreciated everyone who contributed in diverse ways to the flag-off of relief materials at the Benue State Emergency Management Agency head office.
In his words: “On behalf of the governor of Benue State; Governor Samuel Ortom, my colleagues that are here, all the stakeholders that are present, the IDPs, and indeed all the persons of concern who, by the grace of God, will benefit from this exercise of distribution of food and non-food items, we appreciate you for always being with us.”
Dr Shior also appreciated the media for their patience, stating that the media didn’t get angry and leave when the meeting commenced late but instead stuck by. He thanked them for always covering the activities of the Benue State government concerning catering for the IDPs.
He explained that the flag-off of relief items is a tradition, stating that they come together every month at the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) head office to flag off the distribution of relief materials to the IDPs. In his words, “Today is not an exception.”
Dr. Shior mentioned the food items available, which include: bags of beans, thousands of bags of rice, cartons of noodles, etc.
He explained the process stating that it involves the drivers with the loaded trucks and some SEMA staff who will go to the IDP camps for the distribution of the food items.
“As journalists, you can agree with us when we flag off food items at the SEMA office, we ensure that the items are taken directly to the official and unofficial camps of the persons concerned.”
Dr Shior continued; “The terms are merely for convenience. The camps we refer to as unofficial, Benue State through SEMA is covering them. What we don’t have on the ground there is the needed representation from SEMA but we are working with other partners who are manning those locations and ensuring that the intervention that the Benue state government is providing, the intervention that is coming from the federal government and the intervention and support that is coming from spirited individuals and groups is going directly to the persons of concern.
In addition to the traditional locations we have always distributed food to, we want to inform you that we are distributing food to Otukpo Local Government especially, for the IDPs in Adoka LGA.
We are also distributing food to Apa LGA as we did last month. The IDPs from those communities are still in the camps, they have not gone back to their communities.
Fri May 19 , 2023
He claimed that without assistance from foreign donor organisations, the Federal Government would find it challenging to manage.
Ogine Gloria, you are doing well