By Garzali Saleh
In recent days, the Jigawa State government’s decision to allocate ₦4 billion to feed the indigent during Ramadan has drawn criticism from sceptics who argue that the funds should be channelled into “poverty eradication programs” instead. While these critics accuse the state of neglecting its responsibility as Nigeria’s third-poorest state, their claims not only misrepresent the purpose of the initiative but also ignore the broader context of Jigawa’s multi-faceted poverty reduction strategy. Worse still, the same critics turn a blind eye to Lagos State’s ₦4 billion allocation for cultural celebrations, which, while valuable, lacks the immediate humanitarian urgency and ethical weight of feeding the hungry during a sacred period. Though their criticism never holds water, we must not pretend that they are talking to the hands due to the fact that it is not always that one assumes that proof is in the pudding. Sometimes, one has to deploy some sensitization to the goodness of certain projects and programs. I understand the fact that those who castigate the program are doing so for either hatred or misunderstanding or both. In the subsequent sections of this treatise, I will try to lay bare the significance of the feeding program against the cultural heritage program of Lagos State as both gulf not less than 4 billion Naira in 2025 budgets.
Thinking that Malam Umar A. Namadi FCA leaves development is an admission of docility by those that say so. Though there is no writer in politics that can summarize the development efforts of the government in one writing, there is also no newspaper with space to contain the governor’s effort at moving Jigawa. As a result, I will make a passing reference to these projects and concentrate on dismantling these lies.
For example, despite developmental partnerships with different local, regional and global bodies to develop Jigawa, the state government is currently revolutionizing infrastructure with over 400 roads being constructed currently across the state. Go round the state’s tertiary institutions and see the turnaround- the first of its kind in almost a decade. In health sector, there is robust infrastructure development initiative and human development to promote and subsidize health provision. With the effort of His Excellency, Mallam Umar A Namadi FCA, Jigawa was the best state in basic healthcare provision and delivery across northwestern subregion of Nigeria. Though I am not here to summarize government’s effort in provision of free portable water to all, protection of the environment amongst others, I challenge any of the nay Sayers to tell us a state that can boast of what Malam Umar Namadi is doing in Jigawa state. These machinations, though filled with smack of skulduggery, is meant to thwart Malam from pursuing a more humanistic programs. They will not yield any result for them. Now, the pendulum would swing to the real subject of this write up to avoid digression.
To dismiss Jigawa’s Ramadan initiative as frivolous is to misunderstand both the religious significance of the act and its socio-economic impact. Ramadan is a time of spiritual reflection, communal solidarity, and charity in Islam. For millions of Muslims, feeding the poor during this period is not merely a gesture but a religious obligation. By providing meals to vulnerable citizens, the Jigawa government is fulfilling a moral duty while addressing acute hunger—a critical barrier to productivity and dignity. Hunger does not wait for long-term economic policies to take effect; it demands immediate action. This program ensures that the poorest citizens, including children, the elderly, and the unemployed, can observe Ramadan without the crushing anxiety of starvation.
Comparatively, Lagos State’s cultural celebration, though culturally significant, primarily serves symbolic and touristic purposes. While preserving heritage is important, it does not equate to the life-saving urgency of feeding programs. Jigawa’s initiative directly tackles a visceral human need, aligning short-term relief with the principles of equity and compassion.
Critics who claim Jigawa is “not serious” about fighting poverty overlook the state’s groundbreaking interventions. Under Governor Umar A. Namadi’s administration, Jigawa has pioneered programs that attack poverty at its roots. The “Rice Millionaires” scheme, for instance, has empowered thousands of youths with financial support, training, and agricultural inputs to cultivate rice. This initiative not only creates jobs but also boosts local rice production, reducing dependency on imports and supplying raw materials to industries. Similarly, Jigawa emerged as Nigeria’s leading wheat producer in 2023, a feat achieved through strategic partnerships, subsidized inputs, and farmer education—proof that agricultural investment is central to its poverty-alleviation blueprint.
Furthermore, the Jigawa State Empowerment and Employment Agency (JEEA) has equipped over 100,000 youths with vocational skills in sectors like agricultural value chains, trading, and ICT. These programs prioritize sustainability, ensuring beneficiaries gain not temporary handouts but lifelong tools for self-reliance. Such initiatives reflect a government that recognizes poverty as a complex enemy requiring both immediate and systemic solutions.
The feeding program does not contradict the development program. The Ramadan feeding initiative is not an isolated project but a component of Jigawa’s holistic strategy. Poverty cannot be defeated by economic policies alone; it also requires protecting the vulnerable from the daily indignities of deprivation. A hungry populace cannot actively participate in skill acquisition programs or agricultural ventures. By addressing food insecurity, the government ensures that beneficiaries of its long-term schemes have the basic stamina and morale to engage productively.
Moreover, the program stimulates local economies. Funds allocated to purchase foodstuffs from local farmers and vendors create a ripple effect, boosting income for small businesses and fostering community resilience. This aligns with the state’s agricultural and empowerment agendas, creating a synergy between relief and development.
The hypocrisy of criticizing Jigawa’s compassionate feeding program while celebrating Lagos’s cultural expenditure is glaring. While both states have the right to allocate resources according to their priorities, Jigawa’s choice prioritizes human survival and dignity—a universal imperative. The state’s critics would do well to study its broader record before reducing its efforts to a single line item. Fighting poverty requires both sowing seeds for the future and shielding people from the storms of the present. Jigawa is doing both—and deserves applause, not scorn, for its balance of empathy and innovation.
In a nation where poverty thrives on neglect and empty rhetoric, Jigawa’s actions remind us that governance is not just about policies but about people. Feeding the hungry during Ramadan is not a diversion from the fight against poverty—it is a vital battle within the war.
