Stakeholders meet in Kano over alleged diversion of UNICEF relief materials
Kola Oyelere, Kano
Stakeholders in Dala Local Government Area of Kano State have convened a meeting to address growing concerns over the alleged diversion and sale of relief materials donated by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) for vulnerable children and families.
The meeting, held at the Dala Local Government Secretariat on March 12, 2026, focused on reports that some individuals were diverting items such as medicines, school bags and nutritional food meant for children suffering from malnutrition.
Speaking during the stakeholders’ interaction, a senior UNICEF official, Mr. Adeyinka Adeosun, alongside the Programme Head, Alhaji Balarabe Yusuf Sani, expressed concern that materials provided to support vulnerable members of the community were being misused for personal gain.
They lamented that some of the donated items were allegedly being sold in markets and other public places, describing the practice as unpatriotic and unacceptable.
According to them, preliminary investigations indicated that in some instances the diversion involved parents as well as individuals responsible for distributing the materials.
Adeosun called on stakeholders to strengthen monitoring mechanisms and raise awareness among community members on the importance of ensuring that relief materials reach the intended beneficiaries.
He warned that anyone found culpable would face appropriate sanctions, stressing that UNICEF and its partners would not tolerate dishonesty or the misuse of donated items.
The Information Officer of Dala Local Government, Hassana Aminu, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists in Kano.
She urged community members to remain vigilant and report any suspicious practices, noting that public awareness and cooperation were vital to safeguarding humanitarian assistance.
She added that similar intervention programmes were ongoing in other northern states, including Katsina and Jigawa.
In her remarks, the Director of Special Assignments in Dala Local Government, Hajiya Halima Ahmad Ishaq, explained that the meeting was organised to sensitize the public and discourage the diversion of items clearly labelled “Not for Sale.”
She expressed concern that Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), a peanut-based nutritional supplement meant for malnourished children, was among the items reportedly being diverted.
Halima explained that medical tests are usually conducted before the product is given to a child but alleged that some parents had attempted to manipulate the process to obtain the product for other purposes.
She further emphasized that improved use of locally available nutritious foods could help reduce cases of malnutrition among children, adding that proper nutrition should begin from pregnancy through breastfeeding and early childhoo
Also speaking, a traditional title holder, Wakilin Fuskar Arewa, Alhaji Faruk Yola, called for the involvement of traditional leaders and community elders in monitoring the distribution of relief materials to ensure transparency and accountability.
Participants at the meeting, drawn from various sectors, also offered suggestions on strengthening the distribution system and preventing further diversion of humanitarian assistance.