First Lady Launches South-South Community Food Bank in Cross River, by Faith Ogbotor

Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Friday inaugurated the National Community Food Bank Programme for the South-South zone in Calabar, Cross River State, as part of efforts to tackle food insecurity and malnutrition among vulnerable Nigerians.

The launch, which marked the programme’s fifth zonal rollout across the country, was held in Calabar and covered food-bank facilities established across Cross River State’s three senatorial districts.

The programme is targeted at vulnerable households, particularly children under six years, pregnant women and lactating mothers, with the provision of nutritious food to improve their health and nutritional wellbeing.

Speaking at the event, Tinubu said the initiative was designed to address food insecurity while improving nutrition and health outcomes among vulnerable Nigerians.

She said the programme was in line with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly its focus on food security, healthcare and the wellbeing of citizens.

Tinubu disclosed that three food banks had been established across the Southern, Central and Northern Senatorial Districts of Cross River to make the intervention more accessible to beneficiaries.

She also called for continued collaboration between the Federal Government, state governments and other stakeholders to ensure the sustainability of the programme.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, described the initiative as important in addressing malnutrition and stunting, which he said posed a threat to Nigeria’s human capital development.

Pate urged governors in the South-South region to replicate the food-bank model by using existing primary healthcare infrastructure to reach vulnerable children and women with food and essential micronutrients.

Governor Bassey Otu, while welcoming the initiative, said Cross River had established functional food banks across its three senatorial districts.

He said the state government was also investing in agriculture and food production as part of efforts to address hunger and strengthen food security.

Otu pledged the state’s continued support for the initiative and called for sustained collaboration among government agencies, development partners and communities.

At the event, Tinubu also announced President Bola Tinubu’s approval of ₦25 million each for 18 victims of the Calabar Mall fire, as assistance to enable the affected business owners recover from their losses.

She also inaugurated an ICT Experience Centre at the University of Cross River State, aimed at promoting digital skills and youth empowerment.

The National Community Food Bank Programme is being implemented through collaboration among the Office of the First Lady, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and the Bank of Agriculture.

The initiative is expected to expand access to nutritious food for vulnerable Nigerians and complement government efforts to improve food security and health outcomes nationwide.