NEMA recovers diverted relief materials

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.

Addressing the media in the community, the Director General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani-Sidi, who was represented by the Assistant Director Training, Iyiola Akande, said there was an attempted diversion of relief items, which was successfully intercepted by the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps following a tip off.

Sani-Sidi commended the NSCDC for a job well done.

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

He stated that a committee has been constituted to investigate the attempted diversion with a charge to unravel possible internal collaboration and look out for gaps in official processing and transportation of relief items to beneficiaries with a view to forestall future occurrence.

Sani-Sidi said: “Whenever there is approval for relief materials to disaster victims, a notification letter containing details of quantities of the items is usually sent to the state officials for acknowledgment.”

He urged state officials to always cross check items delivered to them for the benefit of victims of disasters.

He said although the relief items in the two trucks being diverted were found to be intact, according to the approval from the agency, the agency has decided that henceforth any relief materials leaving its warehouse would be escorted by officials to its destination.

A leader of the 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 thanked the Federal Government for the eventual delivery of the relief assistance.

The items, which included food and non food items, were jointly distributed with the assistance of community leaders, the Taraba State Emergency Management Agency and local government officials under the supervision of NEMA officials.