Toba Owojaiye ReportingÂ
The World Food Programme (WFP) has announced its commitment to support Nigeria’s fight against hunger with a significant investment of $2.5 billion. This pledge aligns with President Tinubu’s Zero Hunger Programme, led by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. The Country Director of WFP, David Stevesson, shared this news during a meeting with Dr. Betta Edu, the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, and highlighted that 2.1 million Nigerians have already been identified as beneficiaries of this initiative.
Stevesson commended President Tinubu’s government for its efforts to combat poverty and humanitarian crises in Nigeria, emphasizing the fresh perspective brought by Minister Dr. Betta Edu. He expressed full support for her leadership and the ministry’s strategies, which include plans for achieving zero hunger, establishing humanitarian hubs in every local government area, and leveraging the World Food Programme’s resources to bolster these initiatives.
In response, Dr. Edu expressed gratitude for WFP’s commitment and acknowledged the pressing issue of multidimensional poverty affecting over 133 million people in Nigeria. She highlighted the importance of WFP’s $2.5 billion investment, emphasizing that it would make a significant impact in addressing hunger, a major challenge faced by the country. Dr. Edu emphasized the Zero Hunger Project, which encompasses various nutritional programs targeting pregnant women, children under five, school feeding, those affected by humanitarian crises, the elderly, and refugees in Nigeria.
Furthermore, she mentioned plans to establish 774 humanitarian hubs, one in each local government, to enhance the effectiveness of humanitarian and poverty alleviation efforts. This innovative approach aims to address the needs of the numerous refugees in Nigeria, which currently number over 80,000, with her state alone hosting more than 40,000 registered refugees.
This collaboration between the World Food Programme and the Nigerian government, under the leadership of President Tinubu and Minister Dr. Betta Edu, holds the promise of making a substantial impact on reducing hunger and improving the overall well-being of millions of Nigerians in need.