By Ahmed Rufa’i, Dutse
The Jigawa State government’s N4.8 billion free Ramadan feeding program has been marred by allegations of malpractice across 10 local government areas, sparking concerns over transparency and accountability.
The Commissioner for Special Duties, Auwal D. Sankara, who oversees the implementation of the program, raised the alarm in a Facebook post titled “GARGAƊI GAME DA RASHIN SAMAR DA CIKAKKUN KAYAN SHAN RUWA A CIKIN SHIRIN CIYARWA NA RAMADAN”, meaning “Warning on the Incomplete Provision of Fasting Breakfast Packages Under the Ramadan Feeding Program.”
According to the commissioner, reports from nine local government areas indicated that government-approved meal packages were not fully provided in some feeding centers, which were designed to serve over 300 people daily.
The affected local governments include Garki, Gumel, Guri, Gwiwa, Hadejia, Jahun, Malam Madori, Roni, and Dutse.
“We received complaints that some food agents at government-designated Ramadan feeding centers failed to deliver the agreed meal packages,” Sankara stated.
Issuing a stern warning, the commissioner declared:
“As the official supervising this program, I am issuing a final warning to all agents, local supervisors, and stakeholders. Anyone found guilty of malpractice—whether by shortchanging beneficiaries or failing to complete the package—will face strict consequences.”
He emphasized that hidden supervisors have been deployed across the state to monitor and report irregularities directly to the government.
Sankara urged all personnel involved to uphold sincerity and fairness in carrying out their duties, ensuring that the program meets its objective of providing meals to fasting individuals during Ramadan.
It could be recalled that Governor Malam Umar Namadi approved and released N4.8 billion to fund Ramadan feedings across 287 political wards in 27 local government areas of the state.
Investigations by National Upgrade revealed that the program’s contracts were distributed among 27 food contractors, each responsible for a local government area, while 287 agents—ranging from 10 to 11 per local government, depending on the number of wards—were tasked with overseeing food distribution.
Furthermore, 574 vendors—two per ward—were engaged to provide the meals.
However, all contractors, suppliers, and vendors were reportedly linked to political figures, including commissioners, special advisers, assistants to the governor, and ruling APC stalwarts in their respective localities.
The revelations have raised questions about transparency, political favoritism, and accountability in the implementation of the program, even as the government vows to crack down on irregularities.
