Kebbi govt accuses Malami of politicising UNDP poverty report

The Kebbi State Government on Sunday faulted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate, Abubakar Malami, over his use of a United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) poverty report to criticise the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration in the state.

The State Commissioner for Information and Culture, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed, while addressing a press conference in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital, described the former minister’s reliance on the UNDP report, which placed Kebbi among the poorest states in Nigeria, as politically biased, given Malami’s position as an ADC opposition candidate in the state.

He explained that the former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice was exploiting the report to score political points ahead of the 2027 general elections rather than offering constructive solutions to the state’s challenges.

Ahmed said the government acknowledged the economic difficulties and security challenges confronting Nigeria but accused Malami of politicising the people’s hardship for personal political advantage.

The commissioner added that Malami, who served as Attorney-General of the Federation under the late President Muhammadu Buhari, was now using the poverty report to criticise the state government. He noted that the period covered by the UNDP report included the first term and part of the second term of the Buhari administration, during which Malami held a prominent position.

He alleged that policies and actions during the previous administration contributed to the economic difficulties reflected in the report. He also accused Malami of failing to adequately address insecurity in Kebbi during his time in the Federal Government, despite his influential position.

He accused the former minister of hypocrisy over the relationship between poverty and alleged corruption, citing court proceedings involving the confiscation of properties linked to him.

Ahmed argued that the allegations and court proceedings involving Malami as a former minister should be considered when assessing his criticism of the state’s poverty levels.

On security, the commissioner said the administration of Governor Nasir Idris had taken several steps to strengthen security and support personnel combating banditry across the state. These included providing welfare support to soldiers, police officers, personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS), the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), hunters and vigilante groups.

“The governor has also visited communities affected by attacks to sympathise with victims, provide relief and assure residents of additional measures to improve security, facilitated the establishment of forward operating bases and other military formations which include the 28 Armoured Brigade and Garrison in Birnin Kebbi, the 281 Tank Battalion in Yauri and the 381 Artillery Regiment in Kaoje,” he said.

On the government’s development agenda, the commissioner listed investments in health, education, road construction, economic empowerment, agricultural support, employment and workers’ welfare among the administration’s priorities.

According to him, the administration had improved wages, paid scholarships and provided support for the registration and school fees of students studying within and outside Nigeria, as well as implemented cash-transfer interventions worth billions of naira.

Ahmed described the administration’s road construction programme as a deliberate effort to address longstanding infrastructure deficits, particularly those affecting farmers and commercial activities.

On solid minerals development, the commissioner said the state government had established a Ministry of Solid Minerals Development and a Solid Minerals Development Agency to regulate the sector, protect residents’ interests and attract investment.

He said the government was in advanced discussions with local and foreign investors, adding that agreements had been signed and credit facilities advanced towards prospective investments.

The commissioner acknowledged that the administration’s efforts had yet to fully address the poverty challenges facing the state, pointing out that the scale of the problems required sustained interventions beyond the government’s first three years in office.

He called on the people of Kebbi to support the administration of Governor Nasir Idris, popularly known as Kauran Gwandu.