UN Unveils $2.56bn to tackle hunger, malnutrition in Nigeria

On Wednesday, the United Nations World Food Programme unveiled a $2.56 billion country strategic plan for Nigeria aimed at addressing hunger and malnutrition in some parts of the North-East, North-West, and other selected states.

It outlined the states to include Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa in the North-East; Sokoto, Zamfara, and Katsina in the North-West; as well as Cross River and Taraba states.

The WFP Representative and Country Director, David Stevenson, disclosed this at a press briefing in Abuja, alongside the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Nasir Sani-Gwarzo.

Stevenson said the country’s strategic plan defined the UN agency’s entire portfolio of assistance within the country for 2023 to 2027.

“The Country Strategic Plan is valued at $2.56bn. That’s over $500m a year of assistance for Nigeria to achieve food security and improve nutrition by 2030,” he stated.

Stevenson explained that the CSP was designed to support Nigeria in achieving food security and improved nutrition by 2030, adding that this was in line with Sustainable Development Goal 2.

He said the CSP also sought to contribute to improving good health and wellbeing, inclusive education, gender equality, and climate action, as well as foster a reinforced partnership in strengthening the national humanitarian and development response in accordance with the SDGs.

“My job as country representative in Nigeria is effectively running a big business, a business that is valued at about $1m every day of assistance. And we are assigning contracts with Nigerian companies, with Nigerian civil society everyday to get the food assistance where it’s needed most.