The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in partnership with the Federal Government, on Wednesday distributed food items to 6,403 Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) households in Benue.
The Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs Zubaida Umar, at the flag-off of the distribution at the IDPs Mega Camp in Makurdi, said the food items were donated by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief).
Umar, represented by the agency’s Director of Special Duties, Mrs Fatimah Kasim, stated that the items were being distributed through NEMA in collaboration with the Benue State Emergency Management Agency (BSEMA).
The D-G explained that the centre had donated a total of 24,302 food baskets for vulnerable households in Benue, Yobe, Anambra, Kebbi and Taraba states.
She said Benue received 6,403 food baskets for households that had been profiled across the state.
According to her, the intervention is the first humanitarian support by KSrelief to Benue through NEMA and complements the efforts of both the Federal Government and the Benue Government in addressing humanitarian needs.
“The distribution exercise will be carried out strictly in line with the operational and accountability standards expected by KSrelief.
“To ensure transparency, fairness and effective delivery, the exercise will be implemented jointly by officials of NEMA, Benue SEMA and recognised volunteers,” she said.
The NEMA boss also cautioned 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.
She reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu to improving citizens’ welfare and addressing vulnerabilities arising from disasters, conflicts, climate-related emergencies and economic challenges.
Umar appreciated the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Government of Saudi Arabia and KSrelief for their continued humanitarian support to Nigeria.
Earlier, in his remarks, the Executive Secretary, BSEMA, Dr James Iorpuu, said the distribution underscored the commitment of government and humanitarian partners to provide timely assistance to displaced families.
Iorpuu disclosed that the exercise comprised two humanitarian interventions.
The ES explained that the first involved the distribution of Saudi Arabia’s food donation to 6,403 households across six IDP camps in the state, namely Mega Camp, Abagena, Daudu II, Ortese, Ichwa and International Market Camp.
He announced that the second intervention involved the distribution of more than 3,000 household relief items jointly facilitated by the Benue Government and NEMA to support displaced families in meeting their immediate household needs.
The BSEMA boss commended Gov. Hyacinth Alia for his commitment to the welfare of displaced persons through humanitarian response and recovery programmes.
He also lauded NEMA, particularly its North Central Zonal Office in Jos, for strengthening emergency preparedness and relief operations in the state.
Iorpuu expressed gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the donation, describing it as a demonstration of global solidarity and compassion for people affected by displacement.
The executive secretary assured IDPs that the Benue Government remained committed to restoring their livelihoods and facilitating their safe, voluntary and dignified return to their communities whenever conditions permit.
He urged officials and humanitarian workers to ensure transparency, accountability and fairness in the distribution process so that all relief materials reached the intended beneficiaries without diversion or discrimination.
