By Haruna Usman, Birnin Kebbi
The Kebbi State Government has rejected in its entirety the recent report aired by BBC Hausa and attributed to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), which claimed that UNICEF statistics indicate that estimated 30 newborns and 100 children under the age of five die daily in Kebbi State, with 50 per cent of the deaths directly linked to malnutrition.
According to the special adviser to governor on media and publicity Kebbi government describes the report as false, misleading, and completely inconsistent with the current realities in Kebbi State.
The government notes that the subsequent clarification by the Public Relations Officer of MSF in Nigeria, Abdulkarim Yakubu, confirmed that the statistics referenced in the report were derived from 2018 data and were never intended to represent the current situation in Kebbi State.
This admission clearly demonstrates that the figures presented to the public did not reflect present-day realities and created a misleading impression capable of causing unnecessary public anxiety.
The Kebbi State Government considers it regrettable that an internationally respected humanitarian organisation would allow outdated statistics to be presented in a manner capable of misleading the public. International organisations are expected to uphold the highest standards of accuracy, fairness, and professionalism by ensuring that data released into the public domain is properly contextualised and does not create false narratives about communities or governments.
Under the purposeful leadership of Dr. Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu, Kebbi State has recorded remarkable progress in healthcare delivery and child nutrition through deliberate investments, strategic partnerships, and targeted interventions aimed at reducing malnutrition and improving maternal and child health outcomes across the state.
As part of these interventions, the state government recently distributed 20,000 packs of Kunun Lahiya, valued at over ₦140 million, to 10,000 children across the 21 Local Government Areas to improve their nutritional status. This initiative complements several other nutrition programmes being implemented by the government to tackle childhood malnutrition.
The state government has also continued to strengthen its collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), which donated 10,500 cartons of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) to support the treatment of children suffering from Severe Acute Malnutrition in 11 Local Government Areas identified for special intervention. This partnership reflects the commitment of both the government and its development partners to addressing nutritional challenges through evidence-based programmes.
In addition, the administration of Governor Nasir Idris has invested massively in the health sector through the reconstruction and upgrading of all 32 General Hospitals across the state’s four Emirates. While several projects have already been completed and put into use, work is progressing steadily on the remaining facilities.
The government has also distributed ultra-modern ambulances to improve emergency response and patient referral services, while strengthening the Kebbi State Contributory Healthcare Management Agency to expand access to affordable healthcare.
Furthermore, the government is renovating 225 Primary Healthcare Centres across the state and providing free delivery kits to pregnant women as part of efforts to improve maternal and child healthcare and ensure that Kebbi State contributes meaningfully towards achieving Universal Health Coverage by 2030.
To address manpower needs, the administration has also reviewed doctors’ salaries upward to align with national standards and absorbed 500 health workers previously engaged under GAVI to strengthen healthcare services across the state.
It is instructive to recall that in 2025, MSF similarly claimed that over 400 malnourished children were being admitted daily at Takalau Primary Healthcare Centre.
However, following an on-the-spot assessment by Governor Nasir Idris, those claims were found to be inconsistent with the actual situation at the facility. While acknowledging MSF’s global humanitarian contributions, the Governor advised the organisation to ensure that its reports remain factual, balanced, and free from misinformation capable of undermining genuine development efforts.