First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has called for stronger collaboration between the Federal and state governments to tackle hunger and malnutrition, urging states in the Southwest to take ownership of the National Community Food Bank Programme.
Tinubu made the call on Tuesday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during the launch of the Southwest Zonal National Community Food Bank Programme, an initiative under the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda designed to improve access to nutritious food for vulnerable households.
She urged governors in the region to establish community food banks in partnership with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and locate them close to primary healthcare centres to ensure that assistance reaches those most in need.
The programme is targeted particularly at children under six, pregnant women and lactating mothers, with the national initiative expected to reach about 500,000 vulnerable households in its first year.
Tinubu stressed that the initiative should not be treated as a temporary food distribution exercise but as a sustainable intervention capable of protecting vulnerable Nigerians from hunger and malnutrition.
“A food bank is not a food hub. It is meant for those who are disadvantaged, and every treatment and everything done there is for free,” she said.
She said the success of the programme would depend largely on the commitment of state governments to provide the necessary support and ensure that the food banks remain functional beyond the tenure of the present administration.
“I encourage the governors in this zone in particular to set up community food banks in their respective states in partnership with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency to facilitate the supply of food items and provide operational support required for the sustainability of this initiative,” she said.
The First Lady said the ultimate objective was to ensure that Nigerian children received adequate nutrition and had the opportunity to develop into productive citizens.
She also urged stakeholders to regard malnutrition as a collective responsibility, noting that addressing hunger requires coordinated action by governments and relevant institutions.
The programme is being implemented through collaboration among the Office of the Vice President, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, NPHCDA and the Bank of Agriculture.
In Ogun, three community food banks have been established in Sagamu, Yewa North and Abeokuta South.
Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun described the programme as a significant intervention that complements the state’s efforts in food security, healthcare and social protection.
Abiodun said the impact of government should ultimately be measured by the number of lives improved, rather than simply the number of projects commissioned.
He described food security as not only an agricultural issue but also a health, economic and social responsibility, warning that hunger can affect children’s learning, undermine the health of nursing mothers and reduce workers’ productivity.
The governor said locating food banks near primary healthcare centres would help government identify vulnerable households, support malnourished children and assist pregnant women and nursing mothers.
He also noted that sourcing food locally could benefit farmers and strengthen the agricultural value chain.
The First Lady’s visit also featured the commissioning of the 108-unit Muhammadu Buhari Housing Estate at Kobape and the Gateway Medical Centre of Excellence, a 250-bed facility designed to provide advanced healthcare services to residents of Ogun and neighbouring communities.
Abiodun commended Tinubu for her interventions targeting women, children, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, while calling for sustained cooperation between the Federal and state governments.
The Southwest launch forms part of the Federal Government’s nationwide rollout of the National Community Food Bank Programme, with the initiative expected to extend to the South-South and Southeast zones.
