The Nigerian Government has restated its commitment to expand the National Social Register with a view to addressing food insecurity, malnutrition, and poverty across the country.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr Bernard Doro, who made this known during the flag-off of the distribution of multi-billion naira food items to the vulnerable households in Benue State, North Central Nigeria said that the Presidential Initiative for Food and Nutrition Assistance was a demonstration of the government’s firm resolve to stand with communities affected by displacement, insecurity, communal conflicts and livelihood disruptions.
He assured Nigerians that no one would be left behind, especially during periods of hardship.
“Benue State, proudly known as the ‘Food Basket of the Nation,’ has faced considerable humanitarian pressures in recent years arising from armed violence, farmer—herder conflicts, displacement, and destruction of farmlands.
These challenges have weakened agricultural productivity, disrupted food systems, and placed enormous strain on thousands of households—especially women, children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, and internally displaced persons”.
“Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, the humanitarian realities in Benue require sustained, coordinated, and government-led action. We are aware of the funding constraints currently affecting global humanitarian systems, including reductions in support from some traditional donor partners.”
While stressing that the ongoing intervention is strategic and deliberate, he explained that the programme was designed not only to cushion the immediate effects of displacement and food insecurity, but also to serve as an entry point into something much bigger and more transformative.
“Under my leadership, the Ministry is driving a flagship reform initiative known as the One Humanitarian—One Poverty Response System (OHOPRS). This initiative is built on a simple but powerful principle: affected populations must not receive only one-off support. Rather, humanitarian assistance must serve as a bridge into structured social protection and sustainable poverty-exit pathways.
“What does this mean in practical terms? It means that families receiving food and nutrition support today should not retum to vulnerability tomorrow. Instead, they must be linked to national social protection interventions—conditional cash transfers, livelihood support programmes, skills development initiatives, micro-enterprise support, and other poverty-exit mechanisms that restore self-reliance and dignity. This is how we break the cycle of repeated humanitarian dependency.
The Minister further gave the assurance that the Ministry would work closely with the Benue State Government to ensure that affected communities across the State are adequately captured in the ongoing National Social Register expansion exercise.
“Once captured, they become eligible for a range of Federal Government social protection interventions and poverty-reduction programmes. This is a critical shift —from emergency response alone to a continuum of care that links relicf, recovery, resilience, and poverty exit.
For his part, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya, described the initiative as a direct response to the evolving humanitarian situation across crisis-affected communities.
According to him, this demonstrates the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting vulnerable populations, strengthening shock-responsive social protection, and supporting early recovery efforts.
“These reforms emphasise data-driven targeting, expansion of the social register, improved transparency, and effective last-mile delivery to ensure assistance reaches those most in need”.
Responding, the Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, expressed profound gratitude to President Tinubu and the Ministry, noting that the intervention is apt and demonstrates strong political will and national solidarity.
“It reflects the unwavering commitment of the Federal Government to ensure that no Nigerian goes to bed hungry, particularly in conflict-affected and high-risk communities.”
He explained that the state has continued to face severe humanitarian pressures arising from persistent insecurity and communal conflicts, particularly farmer—herder clashes, which have disrupted farming activities and rural livelihoods.
“Several communities have been attacked, leading to loss of lives, destruction of homes, and the displacement of thousands of our citizens into’ Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps and host communities.
“The indicators of conflict in our State are evident and deeply concerning: Large-scale internal displacement across multiple Local Government Areas; Destruction of farmlands and reduced agricultural productivity; Rising food prices due to disrupted supply chains; Increased cases of malnutrition among children and pregnant women; Heightened poverty levels and loss of household incomes; Overcrowded TDP camps placing strain on basic services such as water, sanitation, healthcare, and education.” The Governor stated
These realities, he said, have significantly weakened household resilience and deepened food insecurity in many parts of the State.
Alia commended development partners who have supported the people and the State government over the years.
“We have put in place mechanisms to ensure transparency, ‘accountability, and equitable distribution to targeted beneficiaries, especially IDPs, widows, orphaned children, and low-income households in severely affected communities.
The Governor further assured the citizens, particularly those in the IDP camps and conflict-affected communities, that the government remains committed to their protection, rehabilitation and long-term recovery.