Nigeria has taken a major step in addressing food insecurity with the launch of a nationwide food intervention programme backed by over ₦65 billion in pledges from government and private sector stakeholders.
The initiative, unveiled by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, is designed to reach at least 500,000 vulnerable households in its first year through the newly established National Community Food Bank Programme.
Speaking at the launch and inauguration of the programme’s Board of Trustees, Tinubu said the initiative is a strategic response to rising hunger and malnutrition, particularly among children under the age of six. “The Community Food Bank Program was conceived by us as sustainable response to bringing healthy and nutritious food within the reach of vulnerable children under 6 years, strengthening community-based nutrition systems, and restore hope where it is most needed,” she said.
She added that the programme aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, aimed at advancing food security and improving the welfare of Nigerians. According to her, the initiative is being implemented in collaboration with key institutions, including the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, and the Bank of Industry.
The First Lady announced a personal donation of ₦500 million to the fund, while acknowledging major contributions from the Aliko Dangote Foundation, ₦10 billion pledged by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited over five years, ₦500 million from the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, and ₦17 billion from the Federal Government through the Social Action Fund. The Nigeria Governors’ Forum also committed a matching ₦17 billion, while an additional $500,000 (about ₦692.5 million) was pledged by anonymous donors.
Tinubu emphasised the importance of transparency and accountability in managing the trust fund, noting that the Board of Trustees comprises individuals with proven integrity and experience. “Their collective leadership will ensure that every Naira donated is used judiciously,” she said.
Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, described the initiative as timely, citing worsening food access challenges across the country. “Across our states, we see the pressure many households face in accessing affordable and nutritious food. More than one third of the children under five are stunted. This points to chronic undernutrition with lasting consequences for fiscal growth and development. This is not only a health issue, it’s a national issue,” he said.
Also speaking, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Mohammed Ali Pate, underscored the urgency of addressing malnutrition, describing it as both a policy and moral imperative. “Health does not begin in hospitals alone. It begins in our homes, in our communities, and it starts with adequate nutrition. And it is not only a necessity, politically, but it’s a moral imperative that we ensure that no Nigerian child goes to bed hungry,” he stated.
He confirmed that the Federal Government has approved ₦17 billion to support the initiative, explaining that the intervention would help decentralise nutrition programmes and strengthen community-level impact.
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, described the programme as a shift “from sympathy to structure and from concern to coordinated response,” noting that Nigeria faces severe nutrition challenges, with millions of children affected by stunting and undernourishment.
At the operational level, the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, Ayodeji Sotinrin, outlined safeguards built into the system. He said the fund would be managed through a ring-fenced account requiring multiple approvals for disbursement, with independent verification at every stage. “No single person can authorize a disbursement. A minimum of three to five authorized trustees must co-sign every approval,” he explained, adding that quarterly reports would be published to ensure transparency.
Distribution of food support is expected to leverage the nationwide primary healthcare network, ensuring reach down to ward level across all 36 states, while procurement and logistics will be supported through the bank’s extensive branch network.
