Yobe
FG Distributes 9,500 Tons of Food to 42,000 Vulnerable Residents in Yobe
FG Distributes 9,500 Tons of Food to 42,000 Vulnerable Residents in Yobe
By Njadavara Musa, Damaturu
The Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, has distributed about 9,500 tons of food items to more than 42,000 vulnerable residents in Yobe State as part of efforts to address hunger and economic hardship.
The intervention, carried out under the Presidential Emergency Food and Nutrition Intervention Programme, aims to support communities affected by poverty, conflict and rising food insecurity across the country.
Speaking during the presentation of truckloads of food items to the state government at the Government House in Damaturu on Thursday, the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Yusuf Tanko Sununu, said the initiative was designed to provide urgent relief to vulnerable populations.
According to him, the programme is part of the Federal Government’s response to the growing humanitarian challenges facing northern Nigeria.
“The massive distribution of food to vulnerable populations is aimed at addressing hunger, malnutrition and poverty while supporting those most at risk,” Sununu said.
He noted that the combined effects of prolonged insurgency and climate change have worsened poverty levels and increased the cost of living, particularly in northern states. The minister added that the intervention targets communities severely affected by over a decade of conflict in the North-East.
The food distribution exercise is being coordinated by the Yobe State Emergency Management Agency in collaboration with the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria to ensure the items reach intended beneficiaries.
Sununu explained that the programme is intended to cushion the economic hardship faced by residents, especially during the Ramadan fasting period.
He further stated that the initiative prioritises internally displaced persons in camps and host communities, returning families, female-headed households, malnourished children, the elderly and persons living with disabilities.
The minister also emphasised that the intervention aligns with the broader strategy of the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu to strengthen social protection systems, enhance community resilience and support a gradual transition from emergency relief to sustainable livelihoods.
Items distributed during the first phase of the programme include bags of rice, beans, millet, maize and other grains, as well as cooking oil, tomato paste, seasoning cubes and salt.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Olubunmi Olusanya, said the programme is aimed at reducing food insecurity and addressing nutrition-related challenges in the most vulnerable northern states.
He observed that several states in the region, including Yobe, have been severely affected by conflict and other humanitarian crises.
Olusanya urged the state government and relevant stakeholders to ensure strict coordination and accountability during the distribution process to guarantee transparency and ensure the food items reach vulnerable households across the state.