On Saturday, the Kano State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) announced its intention to pursue legal action against Wada Sagagi, the Chief of Staff to Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, amid accusations of misappropriating and rebranding federal government relief supplies.
In a statement released by APC State Chairman Abdullahi Abbas, it was revealed that a shocking discovery was made last week—numerous bags of rice, clearly marked as part of the “Federal Government Food Security Program,” were found stored at Wada Sagagi Islamic School, a private institution owned by Sagagi himself.
Abbas expressed disappointment, stating that Sagagi failed to provide a satisfactory explanation for the presence of these bags, which were intended to assist vulnerable communities in light of the recent fuel subsidy removal.
He lamented the continuous reports of food aid diversion by officials of the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and called for an impartial investigation, threatening legal proceedings if no action is taken against those responsible.
Abbas warned that any inaction by the government regarding officials implicated in food aid diversion could be perceived as tacit approval of such misconduct.
He recalled a previous incident from December, where a man named Tasiu Al’amin-Roba, allegedly affiliated with Secretary to the State Government Baffa Abdullahi Bichi, was apprehended for repackaging state palliatives in a Sharada warehouse. Abbas stated that there were promises to bring the suspect to justice.
The chairman noted that the Kano state government has a troubling history of rebranding relief supplies, often emblazoned with the governor’s image and NNPP logo, primarily distributing these to party loyalists.
He mentioned the suspension of Dr. Tukur Dayyabu Minjibir, the Managing Director of the state Agricultural Supply Company (KASCO), last September over alleged unethical grain sales.
Abbas emphasized that mere suspensions or investigations are insufficient; there must be legal consequences for those implicated in these scandals to prevent future occurrences.
He highlighted that recently, the Tinubu administration dispatched 70 trucks of fertilizers, seeds, and other essential farming inputs for free distribution to Kano farmers. However, the state government claimed credit and sold these supplies at N5,000 per bag, undermining the federal government’s efforts to support the populace during challenging times.
Abbas argued that the NNPP’s actions appear to undermine President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s initiatives designed to assist citizens during this difficult period.
He reiterated that the federal government had previously sent truckloads of grains to the Kano state government for distribution to those in need. Still, aside from symbolic launches, the actual impact of these interventions has been minimal in the community.
To date, he noted, the Kano state government has received significant quantities of food aid, including 100 trucks of rice, 44 trucks of sorghum, and 4 trucks of maize, along with various other supplies. Yet, the benefits of these initiatives remain elusive to the average citizen, leading to frustration and unrest.
