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The Federal Government on Thursday secured pledges exceeding N66bn for the National Community Food Bank Programme at its official launch and inauguration of the Board of Trustees in Abuja.
The event, held at the State House Conference Centre, was hosted by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and attended by top government officials, private sector leaders, and development partners.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, disclosed the total pledges during his keynote address, noting that the programme had attracted strong support from both public and private stakeholders.
According to him, the Aliko Dangote Foundation led private sector contributions with a N20bn in-kind commitment spread over five years. This was followed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, which pledged N10bn within the same period.
He added that the Emeka Offor Foundation contributed N500m upfront, while anonymous donors described as friends of the First Lady pledged $500,000, estimated at about N750m.
Pate further revealed that President Bola Tinubu had approved a N17bn special intervention through the Social Action Fund to support the initiative.
He explained that the funds would be deployed through a community-based procurement system across wards nationwide, with a simplified process designed to encourage local sourcing of food items.
The minister also stated that if the 36 state governors contribute N500m each as proposed, an additional N18bn would be realised, pushing the total funding beyond N66bn.
He urged governors to support the initiative, stressing that the spending would directly benefit communities at the grassroots.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman AbdulRazaq, said the forum would engage with its members on the proposed counterpart funding.
He assured that governors were willing to collaborate with the Federal Government and would work towards aligning their contributions with federal support.
Speaking on behalf of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, its Managing Director, Zouera Youssoufou, said the organisation’s N20bn commitment would focus on providing fortified and nutritious food products over the next five years.
She called on other private sector players to support the initiative, describing it as critical to national development.
Also speaking, Sofia Mbakwe, who represented NNPC Limited’s Group Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, said the company’s N10bn pledge demonstrated its commitment to social impact and national wellbeing.
Similarly, Chidioke James, representing the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, described the programme as a step towards addressing hunger and poverty, noting that no society could thrive while citizens remained malnourished.
In his remarks, Pate said the programme aligned with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, emphasising that nutrition was fundamental to health and national productivity.
He described malnutrition as a major public health challenge in Nigeria, contributing to high under-five mortality and limiting human capital development.
The programme is designed to establish community-based food banks in all Local Government Areas, linked to Primary Health Care centres supported by the Basic Health Care Provision Fund.
It will provide nutritious, locally sourced food through a voucher system targeting malnourished children under six, pregnant and lactating women, orphans, and other vulnerable groups.
Pate added that implementation would be coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency.
The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria also pledged support for the initiative, describing it as a timely response to rising food insecurity and the high cost of living.
Its representative, Hamisu Mohammed, said local governments were ready to partner fully in delivering the programme at the grassroots.
Other dignitaries at the event included members of the National Assembly, ministers, traditional rulers, and representatives of development agencies and civil society groups.
The Community Food Bank Trust Fund will serve as the financing mechanism for the programme, with the Bank of Agriculture designated as the managing institution.
