The Kaduna State Government has inaugurated a 17-member task force to track and prevent the diversion of nutrition commodities, in a move aimed at strengthening accountability and ensuring life-saving supplies reach vulnerable women and children across the state.
Speaking during the inauguration in Kaduna on Wednesday, the Commissioner for Planning and Budget Commission, Mukhtar Ahmed, said the committee was constituted following concerns that some nutrition supplies were not getting to their intended beneficiaries.
He noted that the government and development partners had, over the years, invested heavily in the provision of nutrition commodities across the state.
Ahmed, however, stressed that the success of such interventions depends on transparency, proper utilisation, and effective monitoring systems.
“The success of these efforts relies on accountability and the proper use of resources,” he said.
Ahmed added that observed gaps in the distribution chain suggested that some commodities were not reaching the last mile, where they were most needed.
The commissioner explained that the expandable task force had a clear mandate to strengthen tracking systems, ensure timely and accurate reporting, and monitor the distribution and utilisation of nutrition supplies across the state.
He said members of the committee were carefully selected based on competence and integrity, urging them to approach the assignment with diligence and a strong sense of duty.
Ahmed described the committee’s work as critical to improving service delivery, restoring public trust, and achieving better nutrition outcomes in the state.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the committee and Permanent Secretary in the commission, Mukhtar Abdullahi, said the task force was set up following persistent complaints about the diversion of aid and nutrition commodities.
He said the committee would monitor, track, and ensure proper utilisation of the supplies, which are largely targeted at women and children.
“We will do everything possible to ensure that these essential supplies reach the intended beneficiaries,” Abdullahi said.
In her remarks, the UNICEF Chief of Field Office in Kaduna, Dr Gerida Birikula, commended the state government for taking what she described as decisive action.
Represented by UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, Chinwe Ezeife, Birikula said the task force represented a critical step towards strengthening transparency and accountability in nutrition interventions.
She warned against misuse, diversion, and inefficient management of the commodities, stressing that the supplies were meant to improve nutritional outcomes and save lives, particularly among vulnerable populations.
Birikula reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to supporting the state with technical expertise to ensure effective implementation, proper documentation, and clear accountability mechanisms.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the task force comprises representatives of key ministries, departments and agencies, as well as development partners, academia, and civil society organisations.
It is expected to provide coordinated multi-sectoral oversight, strengthen monitoring systems, and ensure nutrition interventions deliver measurable impact.
