…NEMA flags off distribution of relief materials
By Peter Duru, Makurdi
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in collaboration with the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA), on Wednesday flagged off the distribution of 6,403 food baskets donated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) to vulnerable households and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Benue State.
Representing the Director-General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, at the ceremony, the agency’s Director of Special Duties, Mrs. Fatimah Kasim, said the intervention reflects the strong humanitarian partnership between NEMA and KSrelief in supporting vulnerable Nigerians affected by conflict, disasters and economic hardship.
She disclosed that KSrelief donated a total of 24,302 food baskets for distribution across Benue, Yobe, Anambra, Kebbi and Taraba states, with 6,403 profiled households in Benue selected as beneficiaries.
According to her, although it is the first time KSrelief is extending humanitarian assistance to Benue State through NEMA, the intervention is timely and complements the efforts of the Federal Government and the Benue State Government in addressing humanitarian needs and strengthening community resilience.
Kasim assured beneficiaries that the distribution would be conducted with transparency and accountability, noting that officials of NEMA, BSEMA and trained volunteers had been deployed to ensure the food items reached the intended recipients without diversion.
She also advised residents of flood-prone communities to heed early warning advisories as the rainy season intensifies, in line with the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction and Annual Flood Outlook.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of BSEMA, Dr. James Torpuu, said the exercise formed part of two major humanitarian interventions aimed at easing the hardship faced by displaced families across the state.
He explained that, in addition to the food baskets, more than 3,000 household relief items jointly provided by the Benue State Government and NEMA would also be distributed to internally displaced persons.
According to him, the food baskets will be distributed to residents of six designated camps—Mega Camp, Abagena, Daudu II, Ortese, Ichwa and International Market Camp—while the household items are intended to meet the immediate domestic needs of displaced families.
“The Benue State Government has not forgotten you. Every intervention we undertake is driven by our commitment not only to provide immediate relief but also to restore livelihoods, promote self-reliance, facilitate voluntary, safe and dignified return where conditions permit, and create pathways for lasting peace, recovery and sustainable development,” Torpuu said.
He commended Governor Hyacinth Alia for his commitment to the welfare of internally displaced persons and expressed appreciation to NEMA, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, humanitarian partners, donor agencies, host communities and volunteers for supporting relief efforts in the state.
Torpuu also urged officials handling the distribution to uphold the highest standards of transparency, fairness and accountability to ensure that all relief materials reach the intended beneficiaries.
