The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State has raised serious concerns and called for a thorough investigation into claims that Federal Government-branded palliative rice has been misappropriated by officials of the Kano State Government.
At the center of the controversy is Shehu Sagagi, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, who stands accused of orchestrating the alleged diversion. Sagagi has refuted these claims, asserting that the rice found at his Islamic school was personally purchased or donated for the benefit of students.
Kano APC chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, voiced the party’s alarm over the ongoing pattern of misappropriation linked to the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) administration. He demanded an independent inquiry and warned that legal action would follow if the government fails to respond adequately.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Abbas expressed dismay over the continued mismanagement, highlighting that the NNPP government has failed to take decisive action against officials implicated in the diversion of aid. He argued that such inaction could be perceived as tacit approval of these unethical practices.
“It is concerning that hundreds of bags of rice, marked as part of the ‘Federal Government Food Security Program,’ were recently uncovered at the Wada Sagagi Islamic School, owned by Chief of Staff Shehu Wada Sagagi,” Abbas stated. He criticized Sagagi’s lack of a satisfactory explanation regarding the rice, which is intended to support impoverished residents affected by the removal of fuel subsidies.
Abbas further recalled a previous incident in December when Tasiu Al’amin-Roba, allegedly affiliated with Secretary to the State Government Baffa Abdullahi Bichi, was apprehended for repackaging palliative supplies at a warehouse in Sharada.
“The Kano State Government has developed a troubling trend of rebranding and repackaging aid supplies, often featuring the governor’s image and the NNPP logo, before distributing them primarily to their supporters,” he observed.
He also pointed out that last September, Dr. Tukur Dayyabu Minjibir, the Managing Director of the state Agricultural Supply Company (KASCO), faced suspension due to alleged misconduct involving the sale of government-owned grains.
Abbas emphasized the necessity for the Kano State Government to go beyond mere suspensions or investigations, insisting on prosecution for anyone found complicit in these scandals to deter future malpractice.
He criticized the NNPP government for claiming credit for 70 trucks of agricultural supplies sent by President Bola Tinubu’s administration for free distribution to farmers in Kano, alleging that the items were sold to farmers at a price of N5,000 per bag instead.
“The actions of the NNPP government appear to undermine President Tinubu’s initiative to support citizens during these challenging times,” he remarked. He noted that while the Federal Government has provided substantial aid in the form of grains to the Kano State Government, the benefits have not reached the intended recipients, aside from some ceremonial launches.
Abbas highlighted that the Kano State Government received significant quantities of food supplies, including 100 trucks of rice and other grains, which were to be equitably distributed across local government areas.
However, he lamented that the citizens have yet to witness the tangible impact of these efforts, as evidenced by the public discontent expressed during the #EndBadGovernance protests.
