Juliet Jacob Ochenje
The World Food Programme (WFP) Country Director, David Stevenson, has said the organisation will commit $2.5 billion to strengthen and support Nigeria’s target for sustainable food security and zero hunger over a 5 year period.
Stevenson made the disclosure in Abuja on Wednesday when he led a United Nations (UN)’s delegation on an official visit to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu.
The Country Director said: “We talked about zero hunger, we talked about humanitarian hubs in every local government area in the country, we talked about the world food programme. The potential to support those hubs through buying food locally and assisting the needy with cash transfers and food.
“Let me announce here that the World Food Programme is committed to spending 2.5 billion dollars to fight hunger in the next five years in Nigeria.”
He further said 2.1 million beneficiaries have been captured under the programme, and expressed hope that in partnership with the ministry, more beneficiaries will be added to achieve its target.
While conveying the commitment of the WFP to support the Federal Government’s efforts to address humanitarian crises and poverty issues, he stated: “We are excited by President Bola Tinubu’s commitment and drive to eradicate poverty and reduce humanitarian crises in Nigeria. The new energy which the Minister is bringing into the space gives us hope that we will accomplish a lot together.”
While congratulating the minister on her appointment, the WFP country director expressed optimism about the ability of the minister to deliver on the mandate.
Responding, Dr. Edu welcomed the intervention, saying it would go a long way to address some of the country’s humanitarian challenges.
She informed the delegation that ”currently, we have over 80,000 persons living as refugees across Nigeria,” adding that the ministry has introduced an innovative way of rejigging the humanitarian response in the country by creating a “humanitarian hub…774 of these humanitarian hubs in each local government across Nigeria.”
