Jigawa Drops 22 Vendors From Ramadan Iftar Programme Over Fraud

The Jigawa State Government has terminated the participation of 22 vendors and companies in the ongoing Ramadan Iftar programme over allegations of cheating, dishonesty regarding food quality and quantity, and questionable financial dealings.

The initiative, which targets 7.9 million beneficiaries across 640 free meal centres in the state, was launched by Governor Umar Namadi to provide relief and nutritious meals to vulnerable citizens during the 2026 Ramadan period.

In a statement on Friday, the commissioner for humanitarian affairs and special duties, Auwalu Sankara, said the dismissals were due to gross misconduct, mismanagement of public funds, and poor execution of the programme.

According to Sankara, a comprehensive supervisory report and field monitoring exercise conducted barely two weeks into the programme, following public complaints, revealed serious misconduct by several vendors and companies.

The State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Special Duties responded swiftly by dismissing those implicated.

The affected individuals and entities include: Haruna Ladan Inv. and Property, and Musa A. Jibrin (Jahun LGA); Nura Yahaya (Taura LGA); Usman Umar Malam, Muhammad Suleiman, Musa Salisu Kafin, and Dauda Yusuf (Kafin Hausa LGA); Lurwanu Alhassan (Birnin Kudu LGA); Ashiru Kamisu, Shuaibu Muhammad, Muhammad Abdullahi, and Jafaru Magaji (Sule Tankarkar LGA).

Others listed are Sulaiman Shuaibu, Badamasi Umar, Danbaba Nasallah, Fatima Abdulaziz, and Ibrahim Sulaiman (Hadejia LGA); Yusuf Wada (Jahun); Haruna Yau and Aisha Garba (Malam Madori); Babannan Baffa (Guri); and Amina Abdullahi (Gwaram).

“These individuals and entities have been dismissed for gross misconduct, mismanagement of public funds, and poor handling of the programme,” Sankara said.

He added that the government maintains a zero-tolerance policy towards actions that undermine the humanitarian vision of Governor Namadi’s administration.

The ministry emphasised that the government will not compromise on standards or allow any deviation from its policies, particularly during the sacred month.

“We are already in the process of substituting these individuals with deserving contractors,” Sankara said.