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‎FG Unveils Measures to Bridge Food Aid Gap as WFP Scales Down Operations

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‎The Federal Government has rolled out a series of strategic interventions to cushion the impact of the partial suspension of the World Food Programme (WFP) operations in Nigeria’s Northeast and Northwest regions, following concerns over a looming humanitarian crisis.

‎By Chimezie Godfrey

‎The Federal Government has rolled out a series of strategic interventions to cushion the impact of the partial suspension of the World Food Programme (WFP) operations in Nigeria’s Northeast and Northwest regions, following concerns over a looming humanitarian crisis.

‎Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Hon. Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, disclosed this on Thursday at a world press conference in Abuja, where he assured Nigerians that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration was working to prevent a food and nutrition emergency, particularly among vulnerable groups.

‎According to the Minister, while the WFP currently supports over 1.3 million individuals, severe funding shortages have forced the organisation to scale down its coverage to 900,000 in August and a projected 725,000 in September. The reduction, he said, could leave about 575,000 people—mostly internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, pregnant women, and children—without critical food and nutrition support.

‎He warned that the scale-down could lead to increased food insecurity, worsening malnutrition, and a public health risk, especially in Borno and Yobe States where over 150 WFP-supported nutrition clinics face closure.

‎To bridge the gap, Dr. Sununu outlined several key interventions being implemented under President Tinubu’s renewed push for food security, which is a major plank of the government’s 8-point agenda.

‎“These interventions include the Dry Season Food Production Programme focusing on rice, maize, and cassava; the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and Agro-Pocket (NASG-AP); and intensified food security initiatives aimed at boosting domestic agricultural output and promoting potential exports,” he said.

‎He added that the federal government is also strengthening collaborations with international organisations such as the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), UNICEF, and WFP, to tackle food insecurity and malnutrition.

‎Dr. Sununu noted that with over 33.1 million Nigerians projected to face crisis-level food insecurity in 2025, the government’s proactive measures were essential to avert a national emergency.

‎The Minister further called for support from philanthropic individuals, the organised private sector, and donor agencies to complement government efforts and close the gap created by the temporary WFP suspension.

‎“We are calling on our partners—both local and international—to provide urgent support to sustain humanitarian gains and prevent avoidable suffering,” he said.

‎He also stressed the need for long-term solutions, including support for local agriculture, nutrition-sensitive farming practices, and capacity building for local institutions.

‎“We must address not only the immediate humanitarian needs but also the structural challenges fueling food insecurity in the country,” Sununu added.

‎The government’s assurance comes amid rising concerns from stakeholders over the country’s growing food insecurity and the vulnerability of conflict-affected communities in the North.

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