The Federal Government has officially flagged off the distribution of Presidential Emergency Food and Nutrition Assistance, along with essential drugs, to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and vulnerable populations across ten Northern states.
The Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu formally inaugurated the distribution at Government House Sokoto State.
Sununu reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting vulnerable populations and ensuring that assistance reaches those who need it most.
“The intervention targets 20,000 households as beneficiaries across ten Northern states, including women, children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and IDPs.
“the initiative reflects President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes social protection, food security, and human capital development,” Dr Sununu said.
He commended the Sokoto State Government for its cooperation and support in hosting the national exercise, describing it as a demonstration of effective collaboration between the Federal Government and state governments in addressing humanitarian needs.
He assured that the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs would maintain strict oversight to ensure transparency and accountability in the distribution process.
With Ramadan approaching, Dr. Sununu said the intervention would provide much-needed relief to vulnerable households, enabling them to observe the fast with ease and urged beneficiaries to use the assistance judiciously.
In his remarks, the Sokoto State Governor, Ahmed Aliyu, expressed profound appreciation to the federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs for choosing Sokoto as the centre of the intervention
He described the programme as a clear demonstration of the federal government’s commitment to tackling food insecurity, malnutrition, and other challenges facing the most vulnerable.
Governor Aliyu highlighted that since assuming office two years ago, his administration has consistently placed the welfare of vulnerable groups at the core of its development agenda.
He revealed that the state had distributed 1,095 bags of rice and ₦347 million to families affected by banditry in seven local government areas, alongside hundreds of bags of essential food items, including rice, maize, and beans, as well as financial support.
The Governor also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his visionary leadership and the transformative Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that the Federal Government’s nutrition and food intervention aligns perfectly with Sokoto State’s programmes for vulnerable populations.
In preparation for Ramadan, Governor Aliyu announced that the Sokoto State Government is distributing 50kg bags of maize and ₦50,000 cash assistance to 1,000 beneficiaries, complementing the federal government’s intervention.