Governor Malam Umar Namadi of Jigawa State has reaffirmed the commitment of the North West governors to advancing food security and improving nutrition for vulnerable households through sustained collaboration and community based interventions.
The governor made the pledge during the official launch of the National Community Food Bank Programme for the North West Zone in Hadejia.
The programme was inaugurated by the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who described it as a deliberate and sustainable response to food insecurity and malnutrition among vulnerable households across Nigeria
According to a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Hamisu Mohammed Gumel, the launch marked another milestone in the Federal Government’s efforts to tackle food insecurity and malnutrition under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The event attracted governors from across the North West, senior Federal Government officials, development partners, traditional rulers, local government chairmen and other stakeholders committed to improving access to nutritious food for children under the age of six, pregnant women and nursing mothers.
Welcoming the First Lady and other dignitaries on behalf of the people of Jigawa State and the North West region, Governor Namadi described the National Community Food Bank Programme as a timely intervention that reinforces government’s constitutional responsibility to safeguard the welfare of citizens through improved access to adequate food.
He said the initiative complements the Jigawa State Government’s ongoing efforts to combat malnutrition, strengthen social protection and improve the wellbeing of vulnerable families.
According to the governor, the state has already established a strong policy framework through its State Food and Nutrition Policy and State Social Protection Policy, both of which provide targeted nutrition support for mothers, children and vulnerable households.
He added that the Food Bank Programme would further strengthen these interventions by delivering nutritious food directly to those most in need through a coordinated community based approach.
Highlighting the state’s achievements in nutrition and child welfare, Namadi said the home grown MASAKI Nutrition Programme, implemented across 300 communities in the state’s 30 constituencies, screened about 245,000 children in 2024 and more than 382,000 children in 2025.
He disclosed that the programme increased the number of children recovering from moderate acute malnutrition from about 19,000 to more than 43,000 within the same period.
The governor also recalled that in July 2025, the state graduated 600 women trained to produce a locally made nutritious food supplement for children known as Tom Brown or Kwashpap.
According to him, the initiative promotes child nutrition, empowers women economically and encourages the use of locally available food ingredients while strengthening community support systems in line with the objectives of the Food Bank Programme.
Governor Namadi assured the First Lady that governors in the North West would provide the leadership and support required to ensure the success of the programme across the region.
“We will make appropriate storage and distribution facilities available, support selected food bank centres across the states and link these centres to appropriate health facilities to help reach the intended beneficiaries.
“We also commit to providing initial support for food packages to vulnerable households and to continue working with federal institutions, the private sector, development partners and local producers to sustain the programme,” he said.
He further stated that local government councils across the region would work closely with state agencies and community structures to ensure that the initiative becomes a dependable platform for food support, nutrition protection and social care.
Formally launching the programme, Senator Oluremi Tinubu described the National Community Food Bank Programme as a deliberate and sustainable response to food insecurity and malnutrition among vulnerable households across Nigeria.
She said the initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly in advancing food security, improving healthcare outcomes and building a stronger and more prosperous Nigeria.
The First Lady, Senator Tinubu commended Governor Namadi for his administration’s commitment to improving the lives of the people of Jigawa State and applauded the projects inaugurated during her visit.
They included the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Road, the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Road, the Oluremi Tinubu Clinic and Dialysis Centre and the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Academy in Hadejia.
She also expressed confidence in Jigawa State’s capacity to implement the programme successfully, noting that the progress already recorded in Borno State, where hundreds of vulnerable children, pregnant women and nursing mothers have benefited within two months, provides a solid foundation for the nationwide rollout.
Senator Tinubu called on individuals, organisations, institutions and development partners across the North West to support the initiative to ensure that more vulnerable families have access to nutritious food and improved social welfare.
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