NIGER: A watchdog committee overseeing emergency food distribution in Niger yesterday accused a northern provincial governor of diverting aid from villagers and giving it to security forces.
It was the first time a senior government figure has been accused of misusing aid since the harvests failed, although several local chiefs in the southern Filingue region had been forced to pay back aid in May, following irregularities. The committee - made up of officials and civic groups charged with monitoring aid distribution - called for Yahaya Yandaka to be punished after they said he diverted 30 tonnes of Libyan food aid . - (Reuters)