Bashir Nura Alkali

In May 2026, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed a 21-count criminal charge against former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Umar Farouq and her Permanent Secretary Bashir Nura Alkali. The charges centered on alleged financial misconduct during their tenure at the ministry, which oversees critical social safety net programs including conditional cash transfers and emergency relief operations. The EFCC subsequently declared Farouq wanted when she failed to appear for questioning.

The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs was established in 2019 under President Muhammadu Buhari's administration to coordinate Nigeria's social intervention programs, including the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP). These programs were designed to address poverty and unemployment, distributing billions of naira through various schemes. However, the ministry faced recurring allegations of mismanagement and corruption, with civil society organizations and lawmakers questioning the transparency of fund disbursements and beneficiary selection processes throughout its operational years.