WFP Receives 25,000 Tons Grains From Ukraine To Support Nigerians

The World Food Programme (WFP) has received a donation of 25,000 Tons of wheat grain from the Ukrainian government to support 1.3 million Vulnerable Nigerians affected by different conflicts in the North East and North West regions of the country.

The wheat grain donation from the Government of Ukraine which will help provide emergency food assistance in Nigeria, is part of Ukraine’s humanitarian “Grain from Ukraine” initiative launched by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

The WFP country Director Mr. David Stevenson who was speaking at the official event to receive the grains in Abuja Nigeria’s Capital, said the grains couldn’t have come at a better time than now that the vulnerable people are grappling with hike in the prices of food items in the country.

“This wheat from Ukraine could not have come at a better time, cos here in Nigeria, over the past three months, unlike in previous years, prices of key staples across several markets in Nigeria increased above pre-harvest levels hampering food access for vulnerable families who depend on harvest and markets for their supplies”

Mr. Stevenson said the grain would be combined with cash and other commodities to be distributed to meet the basic needs of the vulnerable people in the North East.

“As part of WFP’s ongoing humanitarian operations, the wheat donation will be combined with cash and other commodities to meet the basic food and nutrition needs of crisis-affected women, men and children for a two-month period”
Stevenson noted that “Deadly conflicts and persistent violence in northeast Nigeria have driven millions of people out of their homes, off their farms and across the region, jeopardizing agriculture and livelihoods production”.

While appreciating  the Ukrainian government and other partners, he said the WFP is committed to working with the government and partners to build more resilient, inclusive, and effective food systems taking advantage of its current footprint in the country. Through its “Out of Conflict into Solutions” food systems approach.

The Ukrainian Ambassador to Nigeria Mr. Valerii Vasyliev said due to the Russia-Ukraine war,  the country had not been able to send out food assistance to country countries that needed it but with the support of international partners Ukraine has been able to ship food to support countries around the world and Africa which includes Nigeria.

” Supply chains are distrupted, 345 million people suffer from critical food shortage, all previous attempts by Ukraine to help the world met an aggressive response from the Russian Military”

” Never the less, with the help of international partners, Ukraine was able to develop new ways to deliver grains to the global food market”.

Mr. Vasyliev. said since the beginning of the Ukraine’s humanitarian “Grain from Ukraine” initiative, Ukraine has been able to ship out 170,000 tons of wheat grains to Asia and Africa.

The shipment of the grain was made possible with the combined efforts from Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Luxembourg, Norway, Republic of Korea, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, which has helped cover the costs of transporting the wheat from Ukraine to Nigeria and its distribution to the families in the North East.

Oyenike Oyeniyi