Kebbi Govt Questions Credibility of MSF’s Malnutrition Data, Calls for Accurate Evidence
By Yusuf Gwandu
The Kebbi State Government has questioned the credibility of recent claims by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, regarding the state’s malnutrition situation, alleging that the organisation relied on outdated mortality data during a 2026 media engagement.
In a recent publication, MSF stated that in Kebbi State, an estimated 30 newborns and 100 children under the age of five die every day, with approximately 50 per cent of those deaths linked to malnutrition. The organisation attributed the figures to UNICEF.
MSF also reported that high rates of stunting, widespread malaria, and low immunisation coverage—with only 7.4 per cent of children under the age of two fully vaccinated—continue to contribute significantly to child mortality in the state.
Responding to the publication, the Special Adviser to Governor Nasir Idris on Public Enlightenment and Orientation, Ibrahim Abubakar Jombali, said the government was concerned that MSF’s assessment was based on mortality data dating back to 2018, arguing that the figures no longer reflect the current health realities in Kebbi State.
According to the government, while historical data is valuable for monitoring trends and measuring progress, it should not be presented as evidence of current conditions without proper context, as doing so could mislead the public, influence donor decisions, and distort policy discussions.
The statement noted that Nigeria’s healthcare and nutrition landscape has undergone significant changes between 2018 and 2026, including expanded nutrition interventions, policy reforms, humanitarian programmes, and disease control efforts, all of which should be considered when assessing the current situation.
The government stressed that its position should not be interpreted as a denial of the existence of child malnutrition but rather as a call for public discourse and policy decisions to be based on current, verifiable, and independently validated data.
It further urged humanitarian organisations and development partners to uphold the highest standards of data integrity, transparency, and professional scrutiny, noting that public trust depends on the accuracy and credibility of information released to the public.
The Kebbi State Government reaffirmed its commitment to working with development partners to tackle child malnutrition and strengthen healthcare delivery across the state, while insisting that effective collaboration must be built on reliable, accurate, and evidence-based data.
