Residents of Chanchaga Local Government Area (LGA) in Niger State have raised concerns over the alleged hijacking of palliatives intended for them by the state government. Despite the government's announcement of a five-day public holiday for the distribution of the palliatives, many residents claim they have not received any grains four days into the process.
On March 15, 2024, Binta Mamman, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, announced that the Niger State Government had procured assorted grains worth several billions of naira for distribution to all 25 LGAs. The beneficiaries were to include internally displaced persons, emirate councils, religious leaders, security agencies, and political parties, among others. Ramadan feeding centres were set up in all eight emirate councils, with emirs serving as coordinators.
However, some residents of Chanchaga LGA have expressed their disappointment with the distribution process. They believe the distribution has been hijacked by those at the top, including politicians, and are calling on the State Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago, to address the issue. They stated, “We want the governor to know that we haven’t received the palliatives he sent to us and there is so much hunger in the land.”
In a related development, legislators of Mokwa LGA have voiced their dissatisfaction with the handling of the state government’s special Ramadan feeding programme in their council. They allege that the feeding scheme is being controlled by the village heads of the area, leaving them and the council chairman out of the arrangement.
Abubakar Isah, the House Leader of the Council, explained that the situation in Mokwa LGA deviates from what is obtained in other councils of the state. He stated, “Money for the special Iftar is not with the councillors, as being speculated in some quarters, but in the accounts of village heads. These village heads claimed to be chairmen of committees in charge of the process in the council."