By Abdulaziz Mohammed Malah
Borno State Acting Governor, Dr. Umar Usman Kadafur, on Thursday flagged off the distribution of Presidential Emergency Food and Nutrition items to address food insecurity and malnutrition among vulnerable households in the state.
The intervention is part of the Federal Government’s humanitarian response across the most affected states in Northern Nigeria.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony held at Ramat Square, Maiduguri, Dr. Kadafur described the support as timely and critical to easing the suffering of displaced persons and vulnerable families impacted by conflict and economic hardship.
The Acting Governor expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his unwavering commitment to improving food security, stabilising nutrition, and enhancing the welfare of Nigerians, particularly those in conflict-affected communities.
Dr. Kadafur noted that food security remains a moral imperative and a foundation for sustainable peace and development in Borno State.
He assured stakeholders that the distribution exercise would be carried out with transparency, fairness, and accountability, stressing that the intervention symbolises hope for struggling families, children, pregnant women, and the elderly.
He also commended the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction for his leadership and sustained advocacy on behalf of vulnerable populations.
Earlier, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Bernard Doro, said the Presidential Emergency Food and Nutrition Intervention covers ten of the most humanitarian-affected states: Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Benue, Niger, Plateau, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto, and Kebbi.
According to the Minister, the programme is a coordinated national response to multiple shocks arising from conflict, climate change, and economic pressures.
He disclosed that the Federal Government has approved and mobilised large quantities of food, nutrition, and medical items nationwide, including rice, beans, millet, maize, cooking oil, fortified food supplements, condiments, salt, and assorted essential medicines.
Dr. Doro noted that Borno State remains a priority beneficiary due to prolonged displacement and socio-economic disruptions, receiving substantial allocations of food, nutrition, and medical supplies.
He emphasised that the intervention goes beyond emergency relief, describing it as a deliberate effort to protect lives, restore dignity, and lay the foundation for resilience, local food production, and self-reliance.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya, described the exercise as a significant milestone in the collective fight against hunger and malnutrition.
He commended the Borno State Government for sustained collaboration with the Ministry and praised security agencies, development partners, community leaders, and frontline workers for their continued support.
Highlights of the event included the symbolic presentation of food, nutrition, and medical items to selected beneficiaries, marking the official commencement of the distribution exercise in Borno State.
The ceremony was attended by the Secretary to the State Government, the Federal Commissioner of the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Acting Governor, Commissioners, Special Advisers, and other principal government officials.
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