The National Logistics Committee on Distribution of Relief Materials has donated relief items to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) being accommodated in Edo State.
Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, Azarema Abdulkadir, disclosed this when he led members of the committee on a courtesy visit to Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki at Government House, Benin City.
Noting that the donation marks the fifth round of distribution of relief materials to the IDPs in the state, he said the relief materials include; “10,653 bags of 50kg of rice; 33 cartons of 400mg tin of tomato paste; 1,232 cartons of 70mg of tomato paste; 210 pieces of five litre gallons of vegetable oil and 40 pieces of two litre bottles of vegetable oil.”
Other items are: “5,822 small cartons of Lucozade boost drinks; 993 cartons of Eva soap; 4 cartons of liquid soap; 11 cartons of tablet soap; 329 bales of second-hand clothes and 2,159 pieces of shoes.”
Abdulkadir expressed appreciation to state government and people for accommodating persons displaced by the ongoing insurgency in the North East, as the Federal Government continues to make efforts to restore peace in the region.
“The judicious distribution of the materials by officials in the camp would have tremendous impact on the lives of the IDPs,” he added.
Governor Godwin Obaseki, who lauded efforts of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government in providing succour to the IDPs, urged the committee to include returnees who are victims of human trafficking in their programme.
He said, “One of the challenges the state government is dealing with is the resettling and reintegration programme for 3,000 returnees who are victims of human trafficking. We are expecting about 6,000 others.”
Obaseki assured the committee that the state government will ensure equitable distribution of the relief materials to the IDPs.
He urged the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to also ensure that materials donated are properly stored to prevent damage.