The Federal Government on Monday launched the distribution of food and nutrition assistance to vulnerable households in Plateau State as part of its efforts to alleviate economic hardship and combat rising food insecurity. This initiative, implemented through the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction in collaboration with the Plateau State Government, was inaugurated at the New Government House in Jos. Beneficiaries were selected from the 17 local government areas of the state.
During the launch, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard Doro, described the programme as a component of a broader national strategy aimed at addressing poverty and supporting vulnerable Nigerians. “Returning home as a minister to deliver this intervention is both a professional duty and a personal mission. Plateau is not just my home; it is an integral part of my story,” the minister remarked.
He emphasised that the food and nutrition assistance programme is more than just immediate relief. “This intervention is not solely about putting food on the table today; it is about restoring dignity, rebuilding livelihoods, and ensuring that vulnerable Nigerians can transition from humanitarian assistance to lasting economic opportunities,” Doro explained. He also mentioned that beneficiaries would be integrated into the National Social Register, allowing them access to a wider range of Federal Government social protection and poverty reduction programmes.
Governor Caleb Mutfwang commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for prioritising support for vulnerable Nigerians amid ongoing economic reforms. “Many of the economic reforms introduced by Mr President are well-intentioned and, by the grace of God, they will yield the desired results. However, Mr President acknowledges the need to ensure that those awaiting these results do not go hungry,” the governor stated. He compared the intervention to a temporary relief measure aimed at supporting households facing economic pressures. “Every mother knows that when cooking, if the children are hungry before the meal is ready, she looks for something for them to snack on until the main food is served. That is exactly what President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has done through this intervention,” he added.
Mutfwang noted that the state government is also pursuing long-term strategies to enhance food security and empower farmers. “Beyond these immediate interventions, we need to equip our people with the skills to sustain themselves. This season, we are acquiring an unprecedented number of trucks of fertiliser, which will be offered to farmers at subsidised rates across all local government areas,” he said.
Additionally, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Nentawe Yilwatda, highlighted that the programme was designed as a special intervention to support vulnerable and malnourished communities. “Today, I feel fulfilled, as this project was my initiative. I secured funding for it as a special intervention programme approved by Mr President to assist vulnerable and malnourished communities,” he explained. Yilwatda praised the current minister for maintaining the programme as originally intended. “The person who succeeded me ensured that the program was implemented exactly as it was designed; nothing was reversed,” he added.
Highlighting the Federal Government’s social protection efforts, the APC chairman stated that millions of Nigerians are already benefiting from various interventions. “Social protection is one of the key pillars of this administration. Over seven million households have received support, affecting around thirty-five million Nigerians,” he noted.
The distribution exercise specifically targets widows, the elderly, persons living with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups affected by food insecurity across Plateau State.
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