The Kebbi State Government has refuted claims of poor distribution of Ramadan palliatives in Dandi Local Government Area, describing a viral video circulating on social media as a staged attempt by political opponents to discredit the administration.
The video shows a man identified as Abduljalal Usman alleging that he received only one mudu (plate) of rice and one mudu of maize from palliatives distributed to workers of the Dandi Local Government Education Authority.
However, the state government said the allegation was false and misleading.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy to the governor, Abdullahi Idris, said findings by the government indicated that the man featured in the video is a psychiatric patient who was allegedly used to push a political agenda.
According to Idris, the individual was manipulated by some politicians in a bid to undermine the Ramadan palliative programme introduced by Governor Nasir Idris.
He also stated that the claims made in the video contradicted the actual items procured for distribution by the state government.
“The grains purchased by the state government for the programme were rice and millet. There was no maize in the consignment as claimed in the viral video,” he said.
The governor’s aide further explained that the palliatives meant for Dandi Local Government Area had not yet reached the council headquarters at the time the video was recorded.
He noted that the intervention programme had received positive feedback from residents across the state, especially during the ongoing Ramadan fasting period.
Idris added that the widespread support for the initiative may have unsettled opposition figures ahead of the 2027 political season.
He further alleged that the video was part of a coordinated effort to damage the reputation of the state government, citing earlier incidents such as what he described as a staged attack by thugs in Birnin Kebbi and exaggerated reports of banditry in Tadurga.
He maintained that attempts to spread misinformation would not erode public trust in the administration or its development agenda.
The Kebbi State Government recently rolled out the Ramadan palliative scheme to ease the burden of rising food prices on residents during the fasting period.
Meanwhile, the Dandi Local Government Authority has lifted the suspension earlier placed on Usman pending the outcome of an investigation into the incident.