The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development are to institutionalise the zero hunger roundtable, with focus on eliminating hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture by 2030 with relevant stakeholders.
In a statement made available on Friday, which was signed by the special assistant on Media, Nneka Ikem Anibeze, the Minister, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, made this known at the National Food Security Council Meeting held on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, stating that the initiative is being institutionalised as part of the ministry’s response to the challenge of hunger, aggravated by the lockdown.
Farouq recalled that the modified National Home Grown School Feeding Programme and Take Home Rations (THRs) are provided for 127,589 vulnerable households during the lockdown with children in primaries 1 to 3 in public schools in the FCT, Lagos and Ogun states while 164 trucks of food items were also distributed to 36 states and the FCT as palliatives through donations from the Nigerian Customs Service.
Farouq revealed that the zero hunger roundtable is working in agreement with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and some top private sector executives like Tony Elumelu, Tonye Cole as well as Sahel Consulting, IFPRI, IITA, NESG, FAO, IMMAP, ECOWAS and others.
She enumerated data of poor and vulnerable households, strategic partnerships, job creation and impacting the agricultural sector as well as strengthening the food value chain by connecting farmers to markets, increased local production of nutritious food, strengthening strategic food reserves with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and other critical stakeholders as long -term sustainability strategies to achieving Zero Hunger in Nigeria.
The zero hunger roundtable was convened by the Minister on 5 May 2020, in conjunction with the World Food Programme to bridge the gaps in resources and pave new collaborations for lasting and sustainable change and progress.
She said: “This Ministry provides shock responsive social safety nets through immediate food relief and long term sustainability through the Zero Hunger.
“As part of the mandate of the Ministry to ensure strategic disaster mitigation, preparedness and response, the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIPs) complemented the mandate of the Ministry as delivery mechanisms to provide social interventions including food relief to targeted poor and vulnerable groups across the country.
“As of today, over 41,000 metric tonnes of grains from the Strategic Grains Reserves expected to reach over 5 million households have been handed over to 19 State governments and the FCT. Distribution is ongoing through NEMA based on the presidential directive.”