Kebbi Government dismisses allegations over Kebbi Ramadan palliatives, describing viral video on distribution in Dandi LGA as misleading

The Kebbi State Government has dismissed allegations of inadequate distribution of Kebbi Ramadan palliatives in Dandi Local Government Area, describing a viral video circulating on social media as a “stage-managed drama” allegedly orchestrated by political opponents.

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The video showed a man identified as Abduljalal Usman claiming he received only one mudu of rice and one mudu of maize as his share of palliatives distributed to staff of the Dandi Local Government Education Authority.

However, the state government said the claim was false and misleading.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy to Governor Nasir Idris, Abdullahi Idris, said preliminary investigations indicated that the man featured in the video is a psychiatric patient who was allegedly manipulated for political purposes.

“The individual in the video is a known psychiatric patient who was manipulated by desperate politicians to discredit the widely applauded Ramadan palliative initiative of the governor,” Idris said.

The adviser added that the claim was inconsistent with the actual contents of the palliatives procured by the state government.

“The grains procured by the state government for distribution were rice and millet. There was no maize in the consignment as claimed in the viral video,” he stated.

According to the government, the palliative allocation for Dandi Local Government Area had not yet arrived at the council headquarters at the time the video was recorded.

The administration said the intervention programme has received broad support from beneficiaries across the state as Muslims observe the holy month of Ramadan.

“The distribution of grains by the governor has been widely applauded by the people. It is therefore not surprising that such support has unsettled the opposition ahead of the 2027 political season,” Idris added.

The government further alleged that the viral video formed part of a broader campaign aimed at damaging the reputation of the administration.

The adviser cited previous incidents, including what he described as a “stage-managed thuggery attack” in Birnin Kebbi and exaggerated reports of bandit attacks in Tadurga.

“No amount of blackmail, fabrication of falsehood or mischievous propaganda will change the people’s confidence in Governor Idris and his demonstrated commitment to peace and socio-economic development of Kebbi State,” he said.

The Kebbi State Government recently launched the Ramadan palliative programme to cushion the impact of rising food prices on residents during the fasting period.

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Meanwhile, authorities confirmed that the suspension of Abduljalal Usman by the Dandi Local Government Authority has been lifted pending the conclusion of an investigation into the matter.