The Kebbi State Government has accused former Attorney-General of the Federation and African Democratic Congress governorship candidate, Abubakar Malami, of politicising a United Nations Development Programme poverty report to criticise Governor Nasir Idris’ administration ahead of the 2027 elections.
The state Commissioner for Information and Culture, Yakubu Ahmed-BK, made the allegation on Sunday in Birnin Kebbi while responding to Malami’s comments on poverty, insecurity and access to potable water.
Ahmed-BK argued that poverty statistics should be examined alongside the period covered by the data, the methodology used and subsequent government interventions, rather than being presented as a standalone assessment of the current administration.
“The question is not whether poverty exists in Kebbi; the question is what caused it, who had the opportunity to address it, and what is being done today to overcome it,” he said.
He accused Malami of using the report to discredit the All Progressives Congress-led government instead of presenting practical proposals for addressing the state’s development challenges.
The UNDP’s Nigeria Multidimensional Poverty Index report, published in November 2022, examined overlapping deprivations in areas including health, education, living standards, access to clean water and sanitation, and energy. Its findings provide a statistical baseline for understanding poverty, but should not automatically be treated as a measurement of conditions in every subsequent year.
Ahmed-BK also questioned Malami’s record during his years in the Federal Government under former President Muhammadu Buhari, arguing that his time in public office should be considered when discussing the causes of poverty and the effectiveness of previous interventions.
“Those who had the privilege of serving at the highest levels of government cannot simply detach themselves from the conditions that prevailed during their tenure and then present themselves as though they were never part of the system they now criticise,” the commissioner said.
On security, Ahmed-BK defended the Idris administration’s response to banditry, saying the government had provided operational vehicles and motorcycles to security agencies and community-based security groups.
He said hundreds of Hilux vehicles and thousands of motorcycles had been procured to support the military, police, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, hunters and vigilante groups.
The commissioner also cited support for security formations, including the 28 Armoured Brigade in Birnin Kebbi, the 281 Tank Battalion in Yauri and the 381 Artillery Regiment in Kaoje.
He said the governor had visited communities affected by attacks, provided relief assistance and engaged security authorities to improve coordination.
Ahmed-BK further challenged Malami’s reported claim in June 2025 that about 200 people had been killed in Tadurga Ward of Zuru Emirate. The commissioner said subsequent statements attributed to local security authorities, government officials and the Zuru Emirate Council disputed the figure.
However, he did not provide the specific casualty figures or supporting documents in his Sunday statement, leaving the competing accounts requiring further verification.
The state government also responded to Malami’s criticism of access to potable water, referring to properties linked to the former minister that were subject to forfeiture proceedings.
In July 2026, the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the final forfeiture of 48 properties linked to Malami and associated parties after ruling that the respondents had failed to rebut the reasonable suspicion that the assets were acquired through unlawful activities. The forfeiture proceedings were civil proceedings and should be distinguished from a criminal conviction.
Ahmed-BK argued that resources represented by high-value properties could potentially fund community water projects. However, he did not provide a detailed cost estimate or evidence establishing that the value of a particular property would finance a specified number of boreholes.
Defending the administration’s wider performance, the commissioner listed road construction, fertiliser distribution, agricultural support, solar-powered water pumps, food assistance, teacher recruitment, scholarships and cash-transfer programmes as measures intended to improve residents’ living conditions.
He maintained that persistent poverty did not necessarily mean the government had taken no action, arguing that reducing deprivation required sustained investment and long-term policies.
The commissioner urged Malami and other political actors to present concrete proposals on poverty, unemployment, insecurity and essential services.
The exchange reflects growing political competition in Kebbi ahead of the 2027 elections. The competing claims about poverty, security and government performance will require assessment against verifiable data, budget records, project delivery and independently documented outcomes.
