The Executive Secretary Benue State Emergency Management Agency, (SEMA), Mr. Emmanuel Shior has stated that the agency is no longer in possession of CACOVID Palliatives.
Mr. Shior stated this while responding to what he termed as “misleading information being peddled on social media regarding the distribution of CACOVID palliatives in the state.”
The SEMA boss, in a press statement, said that some individuals have insinuated that the Benue State Government is hoarding large quantities of the palliatives in its warehouse.
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Shior maintained that this allegation was not only baseless but equally mischievous.
He explained that on receipt of the CACOVID food items, Governor Samuel Ortom had directed SEMA to ensure equitable distribution of all the palliatives to the 23 Local Government Areas of the state, and this directive was carried out to the letter.
He said the distribution of palliatives was done by Benue SEMA, in conjunction with Local Government Chairmen, Security Agencies, Civil Society Organizations, Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN), Ja’Amatu Nasir Islam, (JNI), Traditional rulers, Community Leaders and CACOVID Monitoring and Evaluation Team.
According to him, the central distribution was done at Benue SEMA warehouses in Makurdi for onward distribution to the poorest of the poor at the Local Government Areas and Council Ward levels by the Local Government Council Chairmen together with the Local Committees comprising the aforementioned critical Stakeholders.
The items received and distributed to the 23 local government areas include 4,929 bags of 10kg rice, 96,279 cartons of noodles, 49,029 cartons of pasta, (5kg) 49,029 bags of 5kg of semo, 49,029 bags of 5kg of Sugar and 49,029 sachets of salt.
He reiterated that SEMA Warehouses no longer have CACOVID palliatives after the distribution and called on the public not to be misled by the rumors in the public space.
Mr. Shior however appreciated the people of the state for their sustained support to the Government.