By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
In the wake of the devastating floods that hit Borno State in September 2024, the African Development Bank (AfDB) has offered a $1 million contribution from its Special Relief Fund to support emergency food response for flood-affected communities in Borno State, North East, Nigeria.
Speaking on Thursday in Maiduguri, the AfDB, Director General in Nigeria, Abdul Kamara, said ,“I hope that this additional funding will mitigate the suffering of vulnerable people on the brink of acute hunger, at a time when more Nigerians than ever before are in need of humanitarian assistance”.
“I commend the Federal Government of Nigeria and WFP for the continuous efforts to operate in such a challenging environment to improve the lives of Nigerian families,” Abdul added.
According to him, African Development Bank Group (AfDB) is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF).
He noted also that AfDB is on the ground in 44 African countries with an external office in Japan, the AfDB contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states.
“AfDB’s support is timely and comes as a lifeline for those struggling to feed themselves amidst rising food prices and economic turmoil”, he added.
“The recent floods of September 2024 compounded years of prior displacement, food insecurity and economic hardship, with disastrous consequences pushing hunger levels even higher.
“The support comes at a critical time, when humanitarian funding is in short supply and the country faces alarmingly high rates of food insecurity exacerbated by conflict, floods and rising poverty.
While the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) will use this contribution, on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria, to provide emergency food assistance to 120,000 women, men, and children with each household receiving 35 kg worth of staple food bag or supply,” Abdul said.
In her remark, the WFP Country Director , Mr. David Stevenson said, ” the Government of Nigeria is a firm supporter of WFP’s humanitarian food systems solutions in Borno state. “
He noted, however, that as part of the government’s Borno State Development Plan, WFP and partners deliver food and specialised nutrition assistance to 1 million people in Borno state each month.
Stevenson said that “Communities in Jere LGA which, after years of conflict and violence, had started rebuilding their lives were struck by the floods and once again displaced meaning more and more people cannot support themselves and their families,”
“ The Cade Harmonisé analysis, conducted twice a year in 26 states and the federal capital, projects that 33 million people would be food insecure by August this year.
” WFP also trains and mentors health facility staff to conduct screenings and manage acute malnutrition among women and children whilst promoting appropriate maternal, infant, and young child nutrition practices,” David said.
According to him, “this new contribution complements its ongoing effort to restructure activities of the Programme for Integrated Agricultural Development, Adaptation to Climate Change (PIDACC) and the Inclusive Basic Service Delivery and Livelihood Empowerment Program to avail critically needed services in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.”
“WFP is the United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change,” David added .
The Head of Programme, WFP, Borno State, Mr. Trust Mlambo, who conducted them round the Borno State Mechanical workshop warehouse premises along Baga Road Maiduguri said the beneficiaries were provided their bank account details for the transfer of the cash support to their families online already of N100,000 cash each.
While the food item is being discontinued include 25 kg rice and 10 kg beans packaged inside each of the 35 kg bag districted to the 120,000 households comprising of 25 kg of fortified rice and 10 kg of beans which started since October 2024 to date February 2025.
While the WFP Programme Officer, Judith Shagba, noted that before the commencement of the recent support to the victims of the flood disaster, the state government did the screening exercise of the beneficiaries and targeting through a committee that identified the affected victims and households in different categories.
She added that WFP food items and cash support or assistance was focusing on the minimal group that were affected which food items were distributed to and cash disbursed to them.
Shagba explained that WFP already have a feed back mechanism where they do collect comments or complaints from the beneficiaries relating to the assistance or support, through a toll free lines of the three major GSM networks, Airtel, MTN and Glo.
