Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, has sounded the alarm on the deteriorating conditions of education, healthcare, and security within Kebbi State. In a strongly worded statement, Malami characterized the issues as “critical and in urgent need of intervention.”
The concerns, disseminated via a statement on Wednesday, the 12th of November, 2025, by his Special Assistant on Media, Mohammed Bello Doka, were underpinned by distressing national and international data. Malami emphasized the educational crisis, pointing out that national reports reveal “67.6% of children aged 6–15 in Kebbi are out of school.” Furthermore, the net school attendance rate in the state is acutely low, standing at a mere “38%, among the lowest in the country.”
The multi-faceted poverty afflicting the state was also a key focus. Citing UNICEF statistics, Malami noted that a staggering “over 88% of children live in multidimensional poverty,” meaning they lack fundamental necessities like clean water, proper nutrition, education, and healthcare. This is compounded by overall economic hardship, with “over 72% of residents live below the poverty line.”
The health sector shows significant deficiencies, according to the former Minister’s statement. He highlighted a severe “81.5% malaria prevalence among children under five” and the fact that “71% of pregnant women in rural areas reportedly do not receive antenatal care.”
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Security also remains a dire concern. Malami brought attention to a spate of violence between 2021 and 2025, detailing “multiple bandit attacks and kidnappings” that led to numerous casualties. Notably, this wave of insecurity included the high-profile incident of “the abduction of the Deputy Speaker of the Kebbi State House of Assembly.”
Malami ultimately directed his criticism at the current administration’s perceived priorities. He argued that the state government’s focus on “political narratives and public relations campaigns” is a distraction that has drawn attention away from effectively tackling the fundamental problems of healthcare, education, and safety.
He concluded with a direct call for action, stressing that “Addressing these challenges is essential for the development and wellbeing of the people of Kebbi,” and implored state authorities to focus on practical governance measures that directly enhance the quality of life for its citizens.