Gov Alia, Benue Rep clash over seized palliatives

Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State and the member representing Kwande/Ushongo constituency in the House of Representatives, Terseer Ugbor, have clashed over the confiscation of palliatives facilitated by the lawmaker. The governor on Monday said the palliatives were seized due to suspicions of diversion after the relief materials were found being offloaded at a private […]

Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State and the member representing Kwande/Ushongo constituency in the House of Representatives, Terseer Ugbor, have clashed over the confiscation of palliatives facilitated by the lawmaker.

The governor on Monday said the palliatives were seized due to suspicions of diversion after the relief materials were found being offloaded at a private residence in Makurdi instead of being delivered directly at Kwande LGA where it rightfully belonged.

Our correspondent reports that on September 11, 2024, two trucks containing palliatives, which were facilitated by Ugbor’s office and approved by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), were intercepted by Benue State government officials acting on the governor’s directive.

The confiscated items were taken to Government House, Makurdi.

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The governor speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Tersoo Kula, however clarified that the palliatives were intended for internally displaced persons (IDPs) and vulnerable individuals in Kwande/Ushongo but were suspiciously being offloaded in Makurdi.

He stressed that the seizure was not an attempt to divert the materials but to ensure transparency, as all palliatives meant for vulnerable groups must go through the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).

Alia called on Ugbor to explain why the materials were being offloaded in Makurdi at a private residence before they would be released, adding that the state government had been distributing similar palliatives to IDPs in Kwande on the same day the confiscation took place.

In response, Ugbor expressed frustration over the situation, asserting that due process had been followed with NEMA and that Makurdi was chosen as a temporary storage location due to the lack of a warehouse in Kwande.

The federal lawmaker warned that legal action might be taken if the materials were not released by September 17, citing ongoing costs related to the truck’s detention.

The palliatives included bags of rice, garri, mattresses, mosquito nets, and other essential supplies.