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Contractor Diverts Trucks Of Grains Meant For Northeast

Senate Leader, Ali Ndume
Senate Leader, Ali Ndume

Senate Majority Leader, Ali Ndume, has revealed that out of the 113 trucks of grains approved by President Muhammadu Buhari for distribution to Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in the North east, only 53 were actually delivered while the remaining were diverted by the contractor.

Ndume made the revelation while speaking to journalists in Maiduguri while on a visit “to inquire about the true situation on ground regarding the release of grains.”

The Senate Leader stated that President Buhari had in April ordered the release of 10,000 tons of grains to the six North eastern states to cushion the effect of insurgency in the region but lamented that only part of the items were delivered.

He said the contractor was supposed to have delivered 103 trucks of assorted grains for distribution in Borno State, but “he only delivered 53 trucks, the authorities are on it to get the remaining 60 trucks.”

According to Ndume, President Buhari had instructed that the grains should be tracked which necessitated a probe during which it was discovered that some of the grains were diverted.

“President Muhammad Buhari is very concerned on the issues in the North East… The President had an intelligent report that the grains had not been released so he called me and asked me to find out the truth,” he said.

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Ndume revealed that it was after an investigation that it was discovered that the contractor had diverted 60 trucks out of the 113 meant for the state, adding that the contractor is already in the net of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

“Our original plan was to start sharing the grains but we cannot distribute only 53 trucks now,” he said.

President is concerned about the Northeast

Ndume, who represents Borno South Senatorial district, expressed gratitude to President Buhari on behalf of the people of the North east region for his concern on the humanitarian crisis there.

“We are grateful for his concern on the Humanitarian crisis in the North East. Like I said we discuss most often on the issue and when I told him about the devastation in Bama and Gwoza where the entire houses and infrastructure were destroyed he felt very sad,” Ndume said.

“Last week we spent almost two hours discussing with the President on the issue of hunger, starvation, resettlement and rehabilitation of the North East.

“I think that he is genuinely concerned about the problem because he also has independent sources of information,” he added.

File: Ali Ndume and Saraki during a visit to IDP camps in Borno
File: Ali Ndume and Saraki during a visit to IDP camps in Borno

The NEDC Bill




     

     

    The lawmaker expressed optimism that the National Assembly will pass the North East Development Commission, NEDC, bill into law as soon as possible.

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    “The House of Representatives is already done with it before going on recess. The senate was almost done with it too but for some little hiccups due to the source of funding at the proposed headquarters.”

    Ndume, however, said that the issue had been resolved by the leadership, adding that: “We are hoping that immediately we resume it will be a priority to all of us as everybody is supportive of the bill.”

    “The passage of the bill is crucial for effective framework for the rehabilitation of the North East devastated by the Boko Haram terrorists,” he added.

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