Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, on Tuesday formally launched the South-West zonal phase of the National Community Food Bank Programme, inaugurating three food banks simultaneously in Sagamu, Yewa North and Abeokuta South local government areas of Ogun State.
The event marked the South-West rollout of an initiative designed to combat food insecurity and malnutrition among vulnerable households, with a primary focus on children under six, pregnant women and lactating mothers. The programme is a collaborative effort involving the Office of the First Lady, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and the Bank of Agriculture.
Senator Tinubu described the scheme as “a deliberate and sustainable response to food security, insecurity and malnutrition” that aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. She noted that the national programme was first launched in Abuja on 2 April 2024, followed by zonal launches in the North-East (Borno), North-West (Jigawa) and North-Central (Kogi). The South-West launch brings the total number of food banks established so far to several dozen across the northern and central zones, with three more now operational in Ogun.
“By the grace of God, we will soon extend the initiative to the South-South and South-East zones, completing its nationwide rollout,” the First Lady said.
She praised Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun for his administration’s focus on welfare and development, citing the newly completed Gateway Medical Centre of Excellence in Oke-Mosan and the President Muhammadu Buhari Housing Estate on Kobape Road, which she commissioned earlier the same day. She also thanked the governor’s wife, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun, and the people of Ogun for their warm reception.
In a more pointed segment of her remarks, Senator Tinubu urged South-West governors to take ownership of the programme. She noted that several of her counterparts from the zone were absent and stressed that food banks are distinct from general food hubs: they provide free nutritious food specifically for disadvantaged groups. “A food bank is meant for those who are disadvantaged, and every treatment and everything done there is for free,” she said.
She called on state governments to partner with the NPHCDA to establish additional community food banks close to primary healthcare centres, ensure continuous supply of food items and provide operational support so the initiative outlives any single administration. “We don’t expect this initiative to stop after Mr President’s tenure in office; we want it to be a continuous thing until every child is well-nourished,” she added.
The First Lady also acknowledged the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate; NPHCDA Executive Director Dr Muyi Aina; and Bank of Agriculture Managing Director Mr Aliyu Abdulhameed for their roles in the partnership.
The National Community Food Bank Programme aims to ensure that no pregnant or lactating mother or child under six lacks access to nutritious food for healthy development. With the South-West launch complete, attention now turns to the remaining southern zones as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to address malnutrition across the country.