From Abdullahi Idris, Dutse
Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State has reaffirmed the commitment of North-West states to improving food security and nutrition for vulnerable households, as the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, launched the National Community Food Bank Programme for the zone in Hadejia.
The launch on Tuesday, performed by the First Lady, marked a major step in the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda to tackle food insecurity and malnutrition.
It drew together North-West Governors, federal officials, development partners, traditional rulers, and local government leaders to advance coordinated action for children under six, pregnant women, and lactating mothers.
Welcoming the First Lady on behalf of the region, Governor Namadi described the programme as a timely intervention that reinforces government’s responsibility to safeguard citizens’ welfare through improved access to adequate food.
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He said the initiative complements Jigawa’s ongoing efforts to combat malnutrition and strengthen social protection.
The state, he noted, already has a policy framework through its State Food and Nutrition Policy and State Social Protection Policy, which provide targeted support for mothers, children, and vulnerable households.
The Food Bank, he added, will strengthen these efforts by delivering nutritious food directly to beneficiaries through a community-based approach.
Highlighting Jigawa’s track record, Namadi said the state’s MASAKI Nutrition Programme screened about 245,000 children in 300 communities in 2024 and over 382,000 in 2025.
The programme also increased the number of children recovering from moderate acute malnutrition from 19,000 to more than 43,000 within the same period.
“In July 2025, Jigawa graduated 600 women trained to produce a local, ready-to-use nutritious formula for children, known as Tom Brown or Kwashpap,” the Governor said.
“Together, these initiatives promote child nutrition, women’s livelihoods, and the use of locally available ingredients, in line with the Food Bank approach.”
Namadi assured the First Lady that North-West Governors would provide the leadership needed for the programme’s success, pledging storage and distribution facilities, support for selected food bank centres, and linkage of the centres to health facilities to reach intended beneficiaries.
The region, he added, will also provide initial food packages for vulnerable households and work with federal institutions, the private sector, and local producers to sustain the programme.
Local Governments, he said, will be mobilised to ensure the programme becomes a dependable platform for food support and social care.
Launching the programme, Senator Tinubu described it as a deliberate and sustainable response to food insecurity and malnutrition in Nigeria.
“This initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, particularly in advancing food security, improving healthcare outcomes, and building a stronger and more prosperous Nigeria,” she said.
The First Lady commended Namadi for his administration’s commitment to improving lives in Jigawa and applauded projects commissioned during her visit, including the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Road, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Road, the Oluremi Tinubu Clinic and Dialysis Centre, and the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Academy in Hadejia.
Citing Borno’s experience, where 560 beneficiaries were enrolled and 468 vulnerable children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers reached within two months, she expressed confidence in Jigawa’s capacity to deliver.
She urged individuals, organisations, and development partners across the North-West to support the initiative.
