Malnutrition: FG unveils community food bank for North-West

The Federal Government has inaugurated the National Community Food Bank Programme (NCFBP) for the North-West region, to combat malnutrition and food insecurity.

The First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, said this at the inauguration of the programme on Monday in Hadejia, headquarters of Hadejia Local Government Area of Jigawa.

She said that the programme was part of a deliberate response to food insecurity and malnutrition among vulnerable households in Nigeria.

Tinubu said the programme would ensure that vulnerable children under the age of six, pregnant women and lactating mothers have access to nutritious food.

The first lady said the initiative aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, to advance food security, improve healthcare outcomes to build a strong and more prosperous Nigeria.

According to Tinubu, the programme is being implemented through a strategic partnership between the Office of the First Lady, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, and the Bank of Agriculture.

“It gives me great pleasure to be in Hadejia, Jigawa State, today, for the launch of the National Community Food Bank Programme for the North-West Zone comprising Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano , Katsina , Kebbi , Sokoto and Zamfara States.

“We launched the National Community Food Bank Trust Fund and inaugurated the Board of Trustees in Abuja on April 2, 2026.

“On 27th April 2026, we conducted the first launch in Borno State for the North-East zone. And today, we are launching the second National Community Food bank here in Jagawa State for the North-West zone , afterwards other zones will follow simultaneously,” she said.

Tinubu commended the Borno government for enrolling 560 beneficiaries and reaching 468 vulnerable children, pregnant women and lactating mothers since inception of the programme in the state.

She expressed optimism that Jigawa would build on the feat achieved in Borno, adding that the choice of Jigawa was strategic considering its immense agricultural potential and commitment toward improving the wellbeing of the people.

She highlighted that the success of the programme would depend on sustained collaboration, and called for a transparent, accountable and efficient food bank system that reaches vulnerable households across the country.

Tinubu urged individuals, organisations, institutions and development partners across the North-West region to support the initiative to facilitate its successful implementation.

She lauded Gov. Umar Namadi for his infrastructure development projects aimed at improving the lives of the people in the state.

“I am particularly impressed by the projects I have had the privilege to commission today, namely the Gandun Sariki Road, now named Senator Oluremi Tinubu Road; the Hadejia–Garun Gabas–Dolan Kwana Road, named after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Oluremi Tinubu Clinic and Dialysis Centre; and the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Academy here in Hadejia. We are grateful for this honour done to us,” she said.

Tinunu described the projects as clear evidence of the state and federal government’s commitment towards improving infrastructure, expanding access to quality healthcare and investing in the education and future of young people.

She said the installation of a new dialysis machine at the dialysis centre would bring relief and hope to many patients and their families by reducing the growing burden of chronic kidney disease.

The first lady noted that the academy also represents Tinubu’s commitment to human capital development and educational excellence by investing in the education of our children to secure a better tomorrow for them.

Gov. Umar Namadi also lauded the federal government for the initiative, and assured of effective implementation of the programme in the state.