June 13, (THEWILL)- The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has donated over 21,000 bags of Maize and Garri to vulnerable groups in Benue state, as part of an effort to cushion the effects of hunger in the state.
The Director-General of NEMA, Mrs Zubaida Umar, who performed the ceremony in Makurdi on Thursday, explained that out of the items, 17,940 bags of 50kg are maize, while 4,324 bags were Garri.
Represented by the Zonal Coordinator in charge of the North Central, Mr Bashir Garga, the Director-General stated that 20 percent of the food items were to be given to each local government area, including religious organisations such as; the Christian Association of Nigeria and Jama’at Nasir Islam.
According to her, the committee is made up of local government chairmen, SEMA, traditional rulers, DSS, NPF, NULGE, Red Cross Society, media, civil society organisations, principals of boarding schools, NCDSC, among others.
Receiving the items, Governor Hyacinth Alia, who was represented by his Principal Private Secretary, Dr Emmanuel Change, commended the Federal Government for the gesture.
He pointed out that the present administration is working tirelessly to sustain its status as the food basket of the nation through the provision of fertilisers, tractors and other incentives to farmers.
The governor said that the state government would have rejected the facility since Benue is duty-bound to feed the state and nation rather than receive foodstuffs into the state.
He called on Benue people to form cooperative bodies for the government to provide agricultural incentives to them for a bumper harvest in the state.
In his remarks, the Acting Executive Secretary of Benue State Emergency Management Agency, Sir James Iorpuu, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for sending support to the Benue vulnerable groups, assuring of equitable distribution of such items to the 23 local government councils for the purpose for which it is intended.
The State Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), who is also the Chairman of Konshisha local government, Mr Philip Achua, noted that with the efforts of the Alia administration, it is clear that peace is returning to the state, noting that Benue will reclaim its position as the food basket of the nation within the shortest time.
About the Author
