TheCable

The World Food Programme (WFP) has committed the sum of $2.5 billion to support Nigeria in fighting hunger in the next five years.

David Stevenson, WFP country director, disclosed this on Wednesday when he visited the ministry of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation in Abuja.

Stevenson said the initiative will harness the agricultural potentials in the north of the country.

“I recently had a short discussion with the vice-president and we agreed to meet again in Abuja,” he said.

“We presented our strategy called ‘Out of conflict interest solutions’. It is a food system strategy based on the agricultural potential in the north.

“As you know, from Lake Chad across Borno to Potiskum, straight to Kano into the north-west had been the bread basket in the past, really productive.

“What I am taking out of this is renewed energy. I came to Nigeria to really help and I actually came back to the world food programme after some years away.

“I was mentioning to the minister that I came back to Nigeria because really I believe in the country and the ability of Nigerians to work out their own challenges and to prosper as so many have.

“It is really exciting for me and my office to be a part of it so I have come with interest and I am leaving with so much energy and interest than I came in with.”

A statement from the WFP said 2.1 million Nigerians stand to benefit from the initiative.

“The World Food Programme has pledged to support President Bola Tinubu’s zero hunger programme under the federal ministry of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation,” the statement reads.

“2.1 million Nigerians have already been captured as beneficiaries of the program with the hope to expand while working with the minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation Dr. Betta Edu.

“The World Food Programme is committed to spending $2.5 billion to fight hunger in Nigeria in the next five years.

“The minister commended the WPF for the support, adding that ‘we have the challenges staring at us in the face and we must provide solutions to them’.”

In a statement on Wednesday, Betta Edu, minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation, said the support is coming at a time when Nigeria is in need of lasting solutions to the hunger challenge in the country.