N65bn Realised as First Lady Launches National Community Food Bank Programme
https://www.thisdaylive.com/2026/04/03/n65bn-realised-as-first-lady-launches-national-community-food-bank-programme/
Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Monday unveiled the National Community Food Bank Programme for the North-East, describing the initiative as a major step towards addressing hunger, malnutrition, and food insecurity in the region and across Nigeria.
Mrs Tinubu launched the programme in Maiduguri during an official visit to Borno State , where she said the intervention would provide critical nutritional support to vulnerable groups, particularly children, pregnant women, nursing mothers, and economically disadvantaged households.
“It is a great honour and privilege to be here,” the First Lady said at the event. “I have the honour to commission the National Community Food Bank Programme in the North-East to the glory of God.”
The initiative is a flagship national intervention aimed at combating malnutrition and improving food security, especially among the most vulnerable segments of society.
It targets malnourished children under six, pregnant and lactating women, orphans, vulnerable children, and households facing severe nutritional and economic challenges.
The programme was formally launched earlier this month in Abuja, where it attracted pledges exceeding N66 billion from the Federal Government, corporate organisations, and private donors.
Speaking at the inauguration of the programme’s Board of Trustees, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed that the private sector had demonstrated strong support for the initiative.
According to him, the Aliko Dangote Foundation pledged N20 billion in-kind support over five years, while the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited committed N10 billion over the same period.
Other contributions include N500 million from the Emeka Offor Foundation and an anonymous donation of $500,000 from friends of the First Lady.
Prof. Pate also announced that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved a special intervention fund of N17 billion through the Social Action Fund to support the programme.
Designed as a grassroots intervention, the National Community Food Bank Programme will establish community-based food banks in all 774 local government areas across the country.
These centres will be linked to primary healthcare facilities supported under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund and implemented in partnership with the Bank of Agriculture.
Under the scheme, nutritious and locally sourced food will be distributed through a voucher system, ensuring that support reaches intended beneficiaries efficiently and transparently.
Beyond immediate relief, the initiative is expected to strengthen local food systems, improve maternal and child health outcomes, and provide sustainable support to vulnerable communities, particularly in conflict-affected regions such as the North-East.
Comments
Post a Comment