The Federal Government has inaugurated a community-based National Foodbank Programme to boost food security and expand access to nutritious food for vulnerable Nigerians nationwide, targeting households facing persistent hunger and malnutrition challenges. The initiative, championed by the Office of the First Lady under Senator Oluremi Tinubu, aims to reach at-risk households, particularly women and children, through coordinated nutrition support and community-driven distribution systems.
The inauguration, which took place on Thursday in Abuja, brought together business leaders, government officials, and stakeholders across sectors, with the organised private sector pledging over $30 billion and N500 million to the programme. The commitment represents one of the largest private sector contributions to a social intervention initiative in Nigeria’s recent history, signalling strong corporate backing for the administration’s efforts to address food insecurity.
Speaking at the event, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, lauded the First Lady for her leadership and vision, noting that the initiative directly addressed the urgent needs of vulnerable households. He pledged N20 billion in support over the next five years, highlighting the role of the Dangote Group in previous national initiatives, including the CEO Corps for Nutrition and COVID-19 response efforts, as examples of effective collaboration between government and private entities.
Senator Abubakar Kyari, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, described the initiative as a strategic intervention designed to transition from emergency food assistance to a sustainable, well-structured national distribution system. He noted that millions of Nigerians struggled to access basic nutrition, with children under five disproportionately affected, underscoring the urgency of targeted, measurable, and scalable interventions nationwide. Kyari emphasised that the initiative was anchored on strong community systems and national coordination to ensure support remained organised, transparent, and sustainable.
The Minister commended the Bank of Agriculture for bridging production and distribution by aggregating food supplies and coordinating deliveries to communities, a model that reduces post-harvest losses and maximises national impact. The multi-sectoral approach integrates production, aggregation, and distribution with community participation, aiming to reduce malnutrition, minimise post-harvest losses, and ensure consistent access to affordable, nutritious food for Nigerians across the country.
Dr Mansur Muhtar, a member of the Scaling Up Nutrition Movement Lead Group, described the programme as transformative in tackling hunger and malnutrition through coordinated national and community-driven efforts. He commended the Office of the First Lady for conceiving a programme that blends compassion, leadership, and structured engagement to address food insecurity among vulnerable populations. Drawing from personal experience, Muhtar described the programme as deeply significant, citing firsthand exposure to the devastating effects of malnutrition on children and families, both globally and within grassroots communities in Nigeria.
Muhtar called for collective action among government agencies, civil society organisations, private sector actors, and international partners, stressing that broad collaboration was essential to ensure the programme’s long-term success and measurable impact. He pledged that the Board of Trustees would effectively guide the Trust Fund in fulfilling its mandate of nourishing families, strengthening communities, and restoring hope to millions of Nigerians facing persistent food insecurity.
Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, announced that the company would contribute a N10 million expansion fund over five years to support the programme’s objectives. Ojulari noted that the initiative aligned with the company’s social mandate to support livelihoods, create jobs, and promote social stability beyond the energy sector. He added that NNPC Limited would leverage strategic partners to enhance collaborations, improve product design, and strengthen business initiatives.
Similarly, Sir Emeka Offor, Founding Chairman of the Sir Emeka Offor Foundation, donated N500 million to the National Community Investment Programme, describing the initiative as a reflection of commitment to the welfare of the nation’s most vulnerable citizens while fostering collaboration between government and the private sector.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the community foodbank programme is a core component of the initiative, designed to address urgent challenges of food insecurity, strengthen agricultural value chains, and ensure transparency and sustainability through robust governance and financial frameworks modeled on the Bank of Agriculture. The programme marks a shift from emergency responses to a proactive, structured, and sustainable system designed to support vulnerable populations more effectively nationwide.
Muhtar further noted that food security is not only a humanitarian necessity but also a critical driver of economic growth, social stability, and national development, influencing health outcomes, productivity, and long-term societal resilience. He added that a well-nourished population enhances health, education, and productivity, creating a ripple effect that strengthens communities and contributes significantly to sustainable national growth and inclusive development across sectors.
The organisers say the programme is intended to deliver measurable improvements in nutrition, empower smallholder farmers, and enhance household resilience. Private sector partners have reaffirmed their readiness to work alongside government and other stakeholders to ensure the initiative’s success, emphasising that collective action is key to building a Nigeria where no child goes to bed hungry.
The inauguration of the Community Food Bank represents a significant milestone in the Federal Government’s broader strategy to achieve long-term food security, build resilience, and provide renewed hope for vulnerable households nationwide.
