Nigeria's First Lady Calls for State‑Level Community Food Banks Amid Nationwide Food Outreach Expansion

Nationwide food outreach gains momentum Nigeria’s first lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, used a hand‑over ceremony in Katsina to press state governors to establish operational community food banks in all three of their senatorial districts. The appeal was made while food parcels were presented for distribution to vulnerable residents under the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) Food Outreach Scheme.

Katsina becomes the 30th beneficiary Both Leadership and Vanguard reports note that Katsina State was identified as the 30th beneficiary of the scheme, following successful distributions in the country’s 29 other states and the Federal Capital Territory. The hand‑over was conducted by the governor’s wife, Hajiya Zulaihat Dikko Radda, and the first lady was represented by the vice‑president’s wife, Hajiya Nana Shettima.

Funding and logistics According to a statement from Kwapchi Bata Hamman, the Special Assistant to the President on Media and ICT, the outreach is sustained by two private partners who each provide two truckloads of food items each month. This logistical support enables the programme to serve two states on a monthly basis, allowing the initiative to expand its reach steadily.

National Community Food Bank Programme In parallel with the state‑level outreach, the first lady announced the completion of a nationwide rollout of the National Community Food Bank Programme. The programme is designed to combat child malnutrition and to provide nutritional assistance to pregnant and lactating mothers. Tinubu highlighted that federal and zonal interventions alone would be insufficient, emphasizing the need for stronger collaboration between federal and state governments.

Future expansion plans The statements indicated that the next states slated to receive food assistance include Osun, Ogun and Akwa Ibom, suggesting a continued roll‑out schedule. Tinubu framed the effort as complementary to President Bola Tinubu’s broader Renewed Hope Agenda, aiming to ensure that every Nigerian receives necessary support regardless of personal circumstances.

Call to action for governors The core message directed at governors was to adopt the established framework and create functional community food banks within each senatorial district. By doing so, state authorities would augment federal efforts and address the scale of food insecurity and malnutrition more effectively.

Overall, the coordinated push for community food banks and the ongoing food outreach reflect a concerted attempt to strengthen food security across Nigeria’s diverse regions.