The Kebbi State Government has dismissed a viral report alleging the daily admission of 400 malnourished children at a Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)-supported treatment centre, describing it as false and misleading.
Governor Nasir Idris made the remarks during a visit to the Malnutrition Stabilisation and Treatment Centre at Maiyama General Hospital in Maiyama Local Government Area. The visit, he said, was to personally verify the claims that sparked public concern.
“Since the centre’s inception in September 2024, only 1,406 children have been admitted in total. The claim of 400 daily admissions is not only false, but mathematically impossible,” Idris stated.
While praising MSF for its ongoing humanitarian work, the governor cautioned against the misuse of its platform for political motives or the spread of misinformation. He urged the organisation to maintain its neutrality and continue its impactful services across the state.
“We welcome genuine criticism, but we will not tolerate deliberate attempts to tarnish our reputation. Constructive engagement is always encouraged, but it must be based on facts,” he added.
Governor Idris reaffirmed Kebbi’s commitment to collaborating with MSF and other partners to strengthen healthcare delivery. He also expressed satisfaction that MSF’s headquarters had already discredited the false report.
During the visit, MSF’s Dr. Hamza Bello took the governor on a tour of the centre’s Inpatient Therapeutic Feeding facilities. Commissioner for Health, Alhaji Yunusa Isma’il, also commended MSF’s contributions and described the governor’s visit as timely and significant.
