A Facebook post by Muhammad Alfa, a final-year law student at Maryam Abacha University, Kano, has sparked a heated controversy in Niger State, drawing attention to the conduct of public officials and the state government’s transparency. Alfa’s inquiry into the progress of the “New Niger Bread” initiative a program aimed at training 200 bakers and empowering 10,000 individuals over four years elicited an unexpected and threatening response from a senior official.
The initiative, launched in July with a ₦20 million backing from Governor Umaru Bago, was widely praised for its vision to boost entrepreneurship and job creation. However, Alfa’s questions about its implementation struck a nerve with officials.
In a Facebook post, Alfa asked: “What’s the update on the production of New Niger Bread? Were they able to train the thousands of students as promised? Is the bread available in your area?” While his inquiry received a measured response from Umar Mohammed, the Coordinator on Empowerment, who cited the training of 200 Nigerlites as progress, the tone changed drastically with Shehu Bawa Bwari, the Coordinator on Entrepreneurship.
Bwari reacted with an audio message filled with expletives in Hausa, accusing Alfa of undermining his efforts. “I will stop at nothing to bring you down. Your question on New Niger Bread: they are doing well, and I’ll not show you on social media but in a court of law,” Bwari threatened. Critics quickly condemned the outburst, viewing it as an overreach of power and an attack on freedom of expression.
When contacted, Bwari admitted to sending the audio message but denied that it was meant as a threat. “As a human being, when someone undermines your efforts, it’s natural to get angry,” he explained, framing his actions as a response to what he perceived as social media misuse.
The incident has reignited debates about public accountability and the role of government officials in engaging with constructive criticism. Many observers argue that citizens have a right to question government initiatives in a democratic society, and officials should welcome such feedback rather than resort to intimidation.
As the backlash continues, the controversy highlights the delicate balance between public scrutiny and the responsibilities of those in power. Whether this will lead to greater transparency or further tensions remains to be seen.