The Kebbi State Government has reacted to a viral video showing a school teacher complaining about the quantity of Ramadan palliatives distributed to staff in Dandi Local Government Area.
The video, which has circulated widely on social media in recent days, shows a teacher identified as Abduljalal Usman speaking about the food items he said were given to workers as Ramadan support.
In the clip, Usman claimed that he received only one mudu, a local measurement bowl, of rice and one mudu of maize as part of palliatives distributed to staff of the Dandi Local Government Education Authority.
The video quickly attracted attention online, with many people debating the fairness and adequacy of the palliative distribution.
However, the state government has rejected the claims made in the video, describing them as misleading.
In a statement released on Sunday, Abdullahi Idris, Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy to Governor Nasir Idris, said the information presented in the viral video was incorrect.
According to him, the grains being distributed under the Ramadan palliative programme were rice and millet, not maize as the teacher claimed in the video.
He also said that the allocation meant for Dandi Local Government Area had not yet arrived at the council headquarters at the time the video was recorded.
The adviser said this means the distribution in the area had not started when the complaint was made.
“The grains distributed under the programme are rice and millet and not maize as stated in the video,” the statement said.
The government therefore urged members of the public to avoid spreading misinformation about the programme.
The state government also made another claim about the individual seen in the video.
According to the statement, the teacher may have been influenced by political actors to make the complaint.
The adviser further alleged that the man in the video is a psychiatric patient.
He claimed that some individuals manipulated him for political reasons in order to embarrass the government.
However, the statement did not provide further details to support the claim.
The allegation has added another layer of controversy to the issue, as discussions continue online about the video and the government’s response.
The viral clip has sparked wider conversations on social media about the distribution of Ramadan palliatives in the state.
Ramadan palliatives are food items or financial support provided by governments or organisations to help Muslim families cope with the increased cost of food during the fasting period.
The Islamic holy month of Ramadan is a time when many Muslims fast from dawn to sunset.
During this period, governments and community groups often distribute food items such as rice, grains, sugar and cooking oil to support households.
In many northern Nigerian states, such palliative programmes are organised every year.
However, the distribution process sometimes attracts criticism, especially when beneficiaries feel the items provided are too small or not fairly shared.
Meanwhile, the Dandi Local Government Education Authority has lifted the suspension earlier placed on the teacher involved in the video.
Officials said the suspension was lifted pending the outcome of an ongoing investigation into the incident.
Authorities say the investigation will help determine the circumstances surrounding the video and clarify what actually happened.
Education officials have not yet announced when the investigation will be completed.
The incident has once again shown how quickly issues can spread through social media.
A short video clip recorded on a mobile phone can reach thousands of people within a few hours and generate strong public reactions.
In recent years, several government actions in Nigeria have come under scrutiny after videos or photos shared online attracted attention.
While social media has helped bring public issues to light, authorities often warn that information shared online must be verified to avoid spreading false claims.
The Kebbi State Government has called on residents to remain calm and avoid drawing conclusions before the investigation is completed.
Officials say the aim is to ensure transparency and maintain trust between the government and citizens.
They also urged members of the public to rely on verified information when discussing sensitive matters online.
For now, the situation remains under review as the investigation continues.
