By Uche Nnorom, Makurdi
Benue State Governor Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia has disclosed that the number of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs in the State has increased by over 1000.
This is just as more than 20 children have been given birth to in the last one month.
The Governor made this disclosure on Thursday while flagging off the distribution of relief materials to the IDPs at the Secretariat of the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA.
He said, “there are a thousand plus that came in newly about two (2) days ago and remember the dangers that it poses on some of these camps is that almost on a daily basis women are giving birth.
“In the last one month alone, we recorded the birth of about 20 children in just one camp. So just imagine the other camps put together.
Rev. Alia who the National Chairman of Palliative Committee set up by the Federal to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy eemoval, assured that all segments of Nigerians; not just the students, not just the civil servants; everybody is going to be included in the work plan.
“So what the Federal Government (FG) is doing is going to envelope every other Nigerian, so they (IDPs) are not going to be left out.
“But remember, the primary input is to ensure they (IDPs) go back home. And again, remember, the palliatives are short term. They are not long term
“So all I can say now is we have put a number of things in place and the FG is going to reach out to the rest of the states.
Alia decried that SEMA only existed as a mirage as it did not affect positively those who were supposed to be touched, averring that now is a new dawn of setting on how the Government should function and work for the people.
He admonshised the management of SEMA to ensure that all IDPs are given good attention.
“I was in the camps on Wednesday and was amazed to discover the number of my brothers and sisters who are suffering what they never bargained for. What started and brought them to the camps is what they never thought in their lives. The insecurity, man’s heartlessness to a fellow man. Benue is a peaceful State and we can not allow some few ingrates to destroy the image of the State. It remains my priority to resettle them to their homes and we not settle for less than this. So, I appeal to all to support us to enable the IDPs go back to the homes they know. To the agency, it is your duty to ensure that equity and justice are applied in distribution of relief materials to the IDPs. All unofficial camps are now official and must be reached.
I want to appreciate all donations monetary and material and assure them that they will judiciously applied as their intent are. I want to call on the public to contribute financially and materially to the upkeep of the IDPs.
“While we were there yesterday, we assured them of security. In one of the camps which is said to unofficial, we discovered that there were 14,000 people in that camp. And just two days ago, they recorded another 1000 new comers. When you say with such figure, the camp is unofficial, then our thinking must be wrong. They do not have shelter, water and food. Ensure that what you take out to the camps is never diverted at all. Am going to speak to the security agencies wherever you see these donations in any other place be it in Kano as it was done in the past, you Foxs will be in danger. Let it be applied to where it is expected to be applied. And to you the public if by chance you see any of the stamped items here anywhere even at the market square, report straight to my office and we will fix the problem.
“Remember the system must work. We must all put our hands together to ensure that the system works. Be security conscious but do not take the law into your hands. Wherever you see something, say something”,
Exec Secretary SEMA Terna Iorpuu said on assumption of duty on 7th June, 2023, he visited all the camps and discovered that their situation was deplorable.
“I discovered that certain camps we declared official and others unofficial and I quickly changed the status of these camps particularly Ortese. I also, discovered that SEMA was not run as a government agency. The tenets of the edit was not implemented. I restructured it into departments. Staff have deployed from other ministries to head these departments. The agncy was grossly under-staffed as humanitarian response demand staff and capacity to.handle the camps. 88 new staff have been posted to all the camps in the State.
SEMA has received intervention from these individuals and organization, National Emergency management Agency,NEMA, Engr. Sylvanus Garasha donated 150 bags of 25kg of rice, 52 of 100kg of beans and 200 pieces of mattresses. The Federal Ministry of Internal Waterwayshas also, sent 5 million naira to SEMA awaiting other materials. NEMA zonal office Jos is giving 9 trucks of palliatives for Benue State including beans, yams and other assorted food and non food items.
“Today we are sharing food items to 9 official and 5 unofficial camps. Report to mitigate the impending flood is ready”, Iorpuu stated.
