Join our WhatsApp channel HERE for the latest Benue news and updates!
Details emerging from Senator Titus Tartenger Zam’s recent Emergency Empowerment Programme in Benue North-West have sparked public curiosity and discussion, particularly regarding the handling and actual disbursement of the vehicles and motorcycles presented during the event.
According to eyewitness accounts and reports circulating on social media, following the official display and photo opportunities, approximately 90% of the vehicles were reportedly moved back into a fenced compound located behind the NEPA office in Wannunne, Tarka Local Government Area. Organisers are also said to be planning to relocate the motorcycles from the event venue overnight to a warehouse along the Makurdi–Gboko Road.
Sources indicate that only a very limited number of motorcycles were ultimately distributed to beneficiaries. Those that were released were reportedly given selectively to former APC ward chairmen within Zone B of the senatorial district, raising questions among some observers about the breadth and transparency of the distribution process.
The empowerment initiative, which included the presentation of vehicles to zonal and local government APC chairmen, shuttle buses to youth leaders, motorcycles to ward chairmen, and computers to schools, was held in Wannunne and attracted significant attention as a gesture of appreciation for support during the 2023 elections.
While the programme was widely promoted as a means of empowering constituents and strengthening grassroots structures, the reported post-event movement of most items back into secured storage has prompted speculation about whether the assets were intended primarily for symbolic display or for sustained, on-ground use by the wider community.
Senator Zam has previously described such interventions as part of his commitment to effective representation and delivering dividends of democracy to his constituents. No official clarification has been issued by the senator’s office or organisers addressing the specific claims regarding the relocation of the vehicles and motorcycles or the limited number of items distributed.
The development continues to generate conversation among residents in Tarka and across Benue North-West, with many awaiting further details on how the empowerment items will ultimately benefit the intended recipients and contribute to local development. As political activities intensify ahead of future elections, such programmes remain under close public scrutiny for their impact, reach, and execution.
