First Lady launches National Community Food Bank Programme for North-West

The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on Monday launched the National Community Food Bank Programme for the North-West zone in Jigawa State, as part of efforts to tackle malnutrition and food insecurity across the country.

Speaking during the launch in Hadejia, she said the initiative is aimed at reducing the prevalence of malnutrition, particularly among vulnerable groups, including children under the age of six.

Senator Tinubu described the programme as a deliberate intervention designed to address the growing challenge of food insecurity and malnutrition in Nigeria. She stressed the need for urgent action to ensure that children have access to adequate nutrition for a healthier and brighter future.

“Considering the severity of malnutrition in our country, there is an urgent need to take decisive action to ensure that our children receive the nutrition they need for proper growth and development,” she said.

The First Lady explained that food banks would be established near Primary Healthcare Centres to facilitate easy access to food supplies.

She added that pregnant women and nursing mothers would receive food items free of charge to ensure they obtain the essential nutrients required for healthy pregnancies and child development.

According to Senator Tinubu, the initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly in the areas of healthcare improvement and food security.

She noted that the programme is a collaborative effort involving the Office of the First Lady, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, and the Bank of Agriculture.

She also commended the governors of the North-West states for their commitment and support towards the successful implementation of the programme.

In his remarks, the Governor of Jigawa State, Mallam Umar Namadi, praised the Office of the First Lady for introducing the initiative and assured the state’s full support to ensure its successful implementation.

Recent data from the WHO and UNICEF indicate that severe malnutrition cases in northern states increased by 145 per cent between 2021 and 2024, driven by inflation, food insecurity, conflict, and reduced humanitarian funding.