By Ayomide Otitoju
A disclosure by Senate President Godswill Akpabio that the Federal Government disbursed ₦30 billion to each state governor to tackle Nigeria’s worsening food crisis has triggered controversy in Zamfara State.
Despite the intervention, residents say markets remain empty, food prices continue to soar, and hunger persists across the state. The development has fueled demands for transparency on how the funds were used.
With such funding, analysts argue, Zamfara should have seen the establishment of food distribution centers, subsidized goods, improved storage facilities, and direct support for farmers. Instead, many communities continue to grapple with inflation and shortages.
Civil society groups and community leaders are now urging citizens to hold the state government accountable. “This ₦30 billion was not meant to disappear—it was meant to feed the people,” one civic advocate said.
Observers warn that a lack of scrutiny could allow such interventions to be diverted, deepening the food crisis. They stress that citizens, journalists, and civic groups must demand transparency and detailed reports from state authorities.
“This is not just about money—it is about a missed opportunity to ease suffering,” one resident noted, pointing to children going to bed hungry while billions remain unaccounted for.
As pressure builds, calls are growing louder for Zamfara’s leaders to provide receipts rather than rhetoric on how the ₦30 billion was spent.
