FG flags off emergency food relief in Niger, unveils long-term poverty reduction strategy
In a decisive move to combat the impact of the escalating humanitarian crisis driven by floods and insecurity, the Federal Government on Saturday launched a massive distribution of emergency food
In a decisive move to combat the impact of the escalating humanitarian crisis driven by floods and insecurity, the Federal Government on Saturday launched a massive distribution of emergency food and nutritional support for vulnerable households in Niger State.
Speaking at the official flag-off distribution of the Presidential Emergency Food and Nutritional Support Items in Minna, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Benard Doro announced a major policy shift from one-off emergency aid to sustainable economic recovery, adding that the intervention, operating under the Presidential Initiative for Food and Nutrition Assistance, targets those severely impacted by armed banditry, recurrent flooding along the River Niger and Kaduna basins, and climate-related shocks.
Doro said this intervention targets internally displaced persons, particularly pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children under five, whose health has been severely compromised by ongoing banditry and recurring floods, stating that the relief materials were deliberately structured to address essential micronutrient deficiencies and prevent severe conditions like anaemia.
While acknowledging the decline in international aid flows, the Minister assured residents that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains committed to protecting vulnerable Nigerians.
"Let me state clearly, no vulnerable Nigerian will be left behind," the Minister said, addressing a crowd that included Niger State Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago and other key state officials.
The Minister used the occasion to unveil the "One Humanitarian, One Poverty" response system, stating that under this new flagship reform, relief distribution will serve as an entry point into broader federal social protection programmes.
He noted that beneficiaries receiving food aid today will be integrated into the expanded National Social Register, making them eligible for conditional cash transfers, skills development, and microenterprise financing.
"This represents a critical shift from emergency response alone to a continuum of support that connects relief, recovery, resilience, and poverty exit," the Minister explained. "This is how we break a cycle of repeated vulnerability.”
Furthermore, the Federal Government announced that it is developing a 2026 National Anticipatory Action Framework and Financing Instrument, pointing that this initiative aims to institutionalise early warning systems and pre-arranged financing to mitigate the impact of natural disasters like the devastating floods that ravaged Niger State last year, before they escalate into full-blown crisis.
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Highlighting the sheer scale of the humanitarian crisis in Niger State, the State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, noted that overflows from the state's four hydropower dams and the influx of bandits from northwestern Nigeria have created a massive displaced population. He issued a stark warning that while health and food are critical, the lack of education for displaced children risks grooming a new generation of extremists, calling on the federal government to collaborate with international agencies to intervene immediately before terrorist groups exploit the situation.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Mr Olubunmi Olusanya, noted that Niger is one of the 10 most conflict-affected states benefiting from this presidential initiative. He demanded strict transparency from frontline workers to ensure these vital health and food supplies reach the targeted households without diversion.
Echoing the need for accountability, the State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Alhaji Ahmed Inga issued a stern warning to the beneficiaries, directing the displaced families to utilise the life-saving nutritional items and food provisions to improve their health and combat malnutrition, strongly warning against selling the intervention materials in the open market.
Each beneficiary got 25kg of rice, beans and maize, 10 litres vegetable oil, 5 liters of palm oil, a roll of sachet tomato paste, a sachet of Maggi and salt.
