Benue IDPs receive fresh lifeline as NEMA, KSrelief expand food support

By Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in partnership with the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), has commenced the distribution of food baskets and relief materials to 9,403 vulnerable households and internally displaced persons (IDPs) across Benue State.

Speaking during the flag-off ceremony in Makurdi, the Director-General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, represented by the Director of Special Duties, Fatimah Kasim, said the intervention was made possible through the support of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief).
She described the initiative as another demonstration of the strong humanitarian partnership between NEMA and KSrelief, noting that the Saudi-based organisation has consistently supported vulnerable communities in Nigeria through relief interventions and capacity-building programmes.
Umar disclosed that KSrelief donated a total of 24,302 food baskets for distribution to vulnerable households in Yobe, Benue, Anambra, Kebbi and Taraba states, with Benue allocated 6,403 food baskets for profiled households affected by displacement and hardship.
According to her, the intervention marks the first time KSrelief is extending humanitarian assistance to Benue State through NEMA, adding that the support would complement the efforts of both the Federal Government and the Benue State Government in addressing the humanitarian challenges facing displaced families.
She explained that the distribution would be carried out under strict operational and accountability standards established by KSrelief to guarantee transparency, fairness and efficient delivery to beneficiaries.
Umar said the exercise would be jointly implemented by officials of NEMA, Benue SEMA and trained volunteers to ensure that the food baskets reach the intended beneficiaries in an orderly and dignified manner.
She also urged residents of flood-prone communities to take precautionary measures as the rainy season intensifies, citing predictions contained in the 2026 Seasonal Climate Prediction and Annual Flood Outlook.
The NEMA Director-General reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting citizens affected by disasters, conflicts, climate-related emergencies and economic hardship through humanitarian assistance and resilience-building programmes.
In his remarks, the Executive Secretary of Benue SEMA, Sir James Iorpuu, said the distribution was designed to provide timely relief to families displaced by conflict and violence while supporting efforts to achieve durable solutions for affected communities.
He disclosed that the KSrelief intervention would benefit 6,403 households across six IDP camps in Benue, namely Mega Camp, Abagena, Daudu II, Ortese, Ichwa and International Market Camp.
Iorpuu further revealed that the exercise also included the distribution of relief materials jointly provided by the Benue State Government and NEMA to more than 3,000 additional households to help meet their immediate domestic needs, bringing the total number of beneficiary households to 9,403.
He commended Governor Hyacinth Alia for prioritising the welfare of internally displaced persons through sustained policy support and humanitarian interventions.
Iorpuu also appreciated NEMA, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, humanitarian partners, host communities and volunteers for their contributions, assuring displaced persons that government remained committed to restoring their livelihoods, promoting self-reliance and facilitating their safe and dignified return to their communities.