Senate Majority Leader, Ali Ndume has vowed to curb the reported theft and diversion of relief materials and food items donated by the federal government and other humanitarian agencies for the benefit of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in the Northeast region.

Ndume made the pledge at the Northeast zonal office of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, where he had gone to take delivery of some tons of grains donated to the state by Presiden Muhammadu Buhari.

The senator, who was accompanied on the visit by the Minister of State for Power, Mustapha Shehuri, said that the supply of grains was President Buhari’s response to the food needs of the people of the Northeast which is why 113 tonnes of grains were allocated to Borno out of 300 available in the reserves.

He commended the President for his commitment to the welfare and wellbeing of the people in the region, adding that the president’s action has spurred him and his fellow lawmakers to do more for their people.

Ndume said he was happy the EFCC had waded Into the issue of some missing trucks of grains and will soon apprehend the criminals, stressing that “as long as I am still alive, I will make sure all the grains sent to our people are delivered.”

He noted that it was disturbing that some contractors hired by the ministry of agriculture could even dream of diverting the food meant for the IDPs who he said have been traumatized by the insurgency in the region.

Ndume further said that he, together with all lawmakers representing Borno State in the National Assembly, were investigating the alleged diversion of food trucks by contractors, as well as the allegations of food theft by the camp officials.

The senate leader also assured people of the region that the passage of the North East Development Commission, NEDC, will address the poverty, trauma and malnutrition which has characterized the state since the advent of the Boko Haram insurgency in 2009.

He added that the addition of Kano and Plateau States as part of beneficiaries of the NEDC was a mistake that would be addressed via a “legislative conference”.

It was gathered that seventy nine trucks have been received so far by NEMA officials in the region, and about thirty five trucks is being awaited.

The donation was approved by President Buhari about six months ago in order to cushion the sufferings of internally displaced persons in the Born state.