The Jigawa State Government has dismissed 22 vendors and companies participating in its ongoing Ramadan Iftar feeding programme over allegations of cheating, poor food quality, and questionable financial practices.
The programme, launched by Governor Umar Namadi, is designed to provide relief and nutritious meals to vulnerable residents during the 2026 Ramadan season. It targets about 7.9 million beneficiaries through 640 free meal centres across the state.
In a statement on Friday, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Special Duties, Auwalu Sankara, said the affected vendors were dismissed for gross misconduct, mismanagement of public funds, and poor handling of the feeding initiative.
Sankara said the action followed a comprehensive supervisory report and field monitoring exercise conducted less than two weeks after the programme began. The review reportedly uncovered serious irregularities after complaints from members of the public.
He explained that the findings prompted the ministry to take immediate action against the vendors suspected to have compromised the programme.
Among those dismissed are Haruna Ladan Inv. and Property and Musa A. Jibrin from Jahun Local Government Area; Nura Yahaya from Taura; and Usman Umar Malam, Muhammad Suleiman, Musa Salisu Kafin, and Dauda Yusuf from Kafin Hausa.
Others include Lurwanu Alhassan from Birnin Kudu; Ashiru Kamisu, Shuaibu Muhammad, Muhammad Abdullahi, and Jafaru Magaji from Sule Tankarkar; as well as Sulaiman Shuaibu, Badamasi Umar, Danbaba Nasallah, Fatima Abdulaziz, and Ibrahim Sulaiman from Hadejia.
Also affected are Yusuf Wada from Jahun; Haruna Yau and Aisha Garba from Malam Madori; Babannan Baffa from Guri; and Amina Abdullahi from Gwaram.
Sankara said the state government maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward actions that undermine the humanitarian objectives of the programme.
He added that the government has begun the process of replacing the dismissed vendors with new contractors to ensure the smooth continuation of the initiative during the Ramadan period.