Tinubu’s Wife Launches N 17bn Community Food Bank to Fight Hunger in North-East

Tinubu’s Wife Launches N 17bn Community Food Bank to Fight Hunger in North-East

By Tada Jutha, Maiduguri

Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has unveiled a N17 billion National Community Food Bank (NCFB) initiative aimed at addressing hunger and malnutrition across the North-East and other vulnerable parts of the country.

The project was launched in Borno State, where the First Lady described the initiative as a strategic intervention to improve food security, particularly among children and women.

“This programme is designed to confront the challenge of hunger and poor nutrition, not only in this region but across Nigeria,” she said at the event. “It is a privilege to begin this important assignment here in Borno, focusing on the wellbeing of our children and mothers.”

She disclosed that the intervention was approved by Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who authorised the release of N17 billion through the Social Action Fund to support the programme’s rollout.

According to her, the NCFB initiative will establish food banks at the community level in all local government areas. These centres will be integrated with primary healthcare facilities supported under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund, with technical collaboration from the Bank of Agriculture.

The First Lady explained that the programme would adopt a voucher-based system to deliver nutritious, locally sourced food to vulnerable groups, including children under the age of six, pregnant and breastfeeding women, orphans, and low-income households.

She added that the intervention is particularly targeted at communities affected by insurgency, where food insecurity and malnutrition rates remain high.

In his remarks, Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, welcomed the initiative, noting that it aligns with ongoing efforts by the state government to tackle poverty, unemployment, and child malnutrition.

He said the programme would strengthen existing interventions and improve access to essential nutrition services for the most vulnerable populations in the state.

The NCFB is expected to serve as a nationwide model for community-driven food support systems, with a focus on sustainability, local sourcing, and improved health outcomes.