By Princess Simon (Bureau Chief North Central, in Minna)
The federal government has launched the Presidential Initiative for Food and Nutrition Assistance aimed at alleviating the sufferings of distressed people in Niger state.
Speaking at the flag off which took place at the Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference centre, Minna, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Doro, reaffirmed the commitments of the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda to protect vulnerable citizens across Nigeria.
The Minister said the intervention is aimed at not only strengthening food security but ensure that no vulnerable Nigerian is left behind, adding that despite its strategic importance in agriculture and hydroelectric power generation, Niger state has in recent years faced with a number of disasters such as recurring flooding along Rivers Niger and Kaduna, armed banditry, communal feuds and climate-related shocks that have worsened food security and also displaced many households.
This federal government's intervention goes beyond emergency relief, adding that, "The aforementioned challenges have heightened vulnerability among women, children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and internally displaced persons not spared".
The emergency relief aligns with the Ministry’s flagship reforms, One Humanitarian–One Poverty Response System (OHOPRS), which according to the Minister integrates food assistance with structured social protection measures such as conditional cash transfers, livelihood support schemes, skills development initiatives, and micro-enterprise financing.
Also speaking, Governor Umaru Bago commended the Federal Government for timely intervention and expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for continued support to the state during challenging times.
The Governor observed the state’s vast landmass presents significant security and humanitarian challenges requiring collaborations with federal agencies, international partners, and donor organizations.
Governor Bago highlighted the impact of water releases from the three hydroelectric dams, as well as the activities of bandits and other extremist islamic groups contributing to displacement and rising humanitarian pressures, and therefore called for stronger collaboration to ensure the enrollment of displaced children in schools and to counter alien ideologies.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to transparency and effective coordination with the Niger state government and other development partners.
Unconfirmed report however has it that all the beneficiaries representing a particular political party were drawn from Minna the state capital contrary to claims that they are drawn from across the 25 Local Government Areas.
Also, the food items distributed to each of the undisclosed number of vulnerable population in the state included; 25kg bag of rice, 25kg beans, 25 kg millet, one sachet of salt, 50 cubes of seasoning, 5 sachets of tomato, 10 litres of vegetable oil and half gallon of palm oil. NNL.
