The Federal Government has stepped up efforts to tackle food insecurity and malnutrition with the launch of the South-West Zonal National Community Food Bank in Ogun State.
The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, launched the initiative on Tuesday at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, Abeokuta, with a call on South-West governors to establish similar food banks in their respective states.
Senator Tinubu said the programme was designed to provide regular access to nutritious food for vulnerable Nigerians, particularly children under six, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers.
She urged state governments to collaborate with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) in managing the initiative, stressing that locating food banks close to Primary Healthcare Centres would make it easier to identify and reach families most in need.
According to her, the initiative is part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts under the Renewed Hope Agenda to address food security, healthcare, social protection and human capital development.
Speaking at the event, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun said the establishment of the food bank reflected the shared commitment of the Federal and state governments to improving the welfare of citizens.
Abiodun said government projects should be measured by the number of lives they improve, rather than merely by the number of projects commissioned. He noted that the food bank, housing estate and medical centre commissioned during the First Lady’s visit were examples of initiatives intended to directly improve residents’ lives.
The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, said the programme would also strengthen the connection between farmers and consumers by creating a structured system for procuring and distributing food.
He noted that food security remained a major priority of the Federal Government, adding that the initiative was designed not only to provide immediate food assistance but also to support sustainable agricultural production.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Ali Pate, described the food bank as an important intervention for reducing health problems associated with malnutrition and urged South-West governors to support its expansion.
The First Lady also commissioned the President Muhammadu Buhari Estate and the Gateway Medical Centre of Excellence during her visit to Ogun State, highlighting the projects as part of ongoing efforts to improve housing, healthcare and social welfare in the state.
