NEMA recovers diverted relief materials in Gombe

From David Hassan, Gombe

The National Emergency Management Agency has recovered relief materials diverted by a transporter in Gombe state and distributed them directly to victims of windstorm in Bangoba community of Kakara in Sardauna Local Government Area of Taraba State for whom they were meant.

The Director General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani-Sidi has also constituted a committee to investigate the attempted diversion as well as unravel likely internal collaboration for appropriate measures and sanctions against the culprits.

Addressing the beneficiary community in Taraba, after the distribution of the relief materials, the Assistant Director Training in NEMA, Mr. Iyiola Akande said there was an attempted diversion of relief items which was successfully intercepted by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) following a tip off.

He said that the prime suspect, who was the transporter is under investigation.

Akande said “It is difficult to divert relief materials from NEMA because beneficiary states do receive advance copies of the list of items before arrivals of the trucks “In fact a notification letter containing details of quantities of the items is usually sent to the state officials for acknowledgment.’’

He therefore urged state officials to always cross check items delivered to them to ensure they correspond with the list submitted to them for the benefit of victims of disasters.

He said although the relief items in the two trucks were recovered and found to be intact, the agency has decided that henceforth officials of the agency would accompany such trucks of relief materials to their destinations.

A leader of the benefitting community, Jauro Yaya who was also a victim of windstorm said they heard the story of diversion of the relief materials meant for their community to another place, but commended the Federal Government for the eventual delivery of the relief assistance.