By Paul Joseph
The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially flagged off the distribution of Presidential Emergency Food and Nutrition Items in Sokoto State, as part of ongoing efforts to combat food insecurity, malnutrition, and poverty among vulnerable populations.
The flag-off ceremony took place on Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at the Government House, Sokoto.Speaking at the event, the Honourable Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, described the intervention as a clear demonstration of the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting the dignity and wellbeing of vulnerable Nigerians, particularly women, children, the elderly, and persons living with Disabilities (PWDs).
Dr. Sununu commended the Executive Governor of Sokoto State, His Excellency, Dr. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, for his unwavering support and collaboration with the Federal Government.
He noted that the Governor, despite personal commitments outside the country, returned to Sokoto to personally host and participate in the programme, underscoring his dedication to humanitarian service and intergovernmental cooperation.
The Minister emphasized that the intervention targets 20,000 vulnerable households across the state with essential food items and specialized nutrition commodities, including supplies for the treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) among children.
He further disclosed that the Ministry would immediately proceed to deliver therapeutic nutrition supplies to Specialist and General Hospitals across the state to strengthen ongoing treatment efforts.
Dr. Sununu explained that the programme was initiated under the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, following alarming projections that millions of Nigerians could face extreme hunger due to economic shocks, climate change, insecurity, and reduced international humanitarian funding.
He reiterated that the President’s vision is rooted in people-centered governance, ensuring that no Nigerian goes hungry regardless of circumstance.
He added that beyond emergency relief, the Ministry is pursuing sustainable and localized humanitarian solutions, including livelihood support, skills acquisition, agricultural recovery, and community-based resilience programmes for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and host communities.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, highlighted that the intervention was necessitated by increasing humanitarian needs and funding gaps occasioned by the scaling down of some international partners.
He affirmed that the Federal Government approved the initiative to bridge critical humanitarian gaps and ensure continuity of life-saving assistance in affected states, including Sokoto.
The Permanent Secretary praised the Sokoto State Government for its strong collaboration and urged all parties involved in the distribution to adhere to the principles of transparency, accountability, fairness, and compassion to ensure that the items reach the intended recipients.
In his speech, the Executive Governor of Sokoto State, His Excellency Dr. Ahmed Aliyu Sokoto, Ph.D, FCIT, FCNA, expressed heartfelt gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction for prioritizing the welfare of the most vulnerable citizens.
The Governor characterized the intervention as a demonstration of compassionate and responsive leadership, emphasizing that his administration has consistently focused on the wellbeing of the people in its development agenda.
He assured that the Sokoto State Government would ensure effective coordination and respectful distribution of the items across all senatorial districts in the state.
The Governor also reiterated the state’s commitment to supporting federal humanitarian efforts and enhancing social protection systems for vulnerable households.
The distribution, which began in the Sokoto Central Senatorial District, will extend to Sokoto East and Sokoto North Senatorial Districts, in partnership with state authorities and relevant stakeholders.
These food and nutrition initiatives align with the President’s commitment to improving the quality of life for Nigerians, particularly the most vulnerable. “I want to assure our partners and beneficiaries of the government’s steadfast commitment to transparency, accountability, and the effective execution of all social intervention programs.
I urge everyone involved in the distribution to act with the fear of Allah, the Most High, and ensure fairness throughout the process. I hope this initiative brings relief, hope, and renewed strength to our people,” the Governor stated.
Earlier, in her welcoming remarks, the Honourable Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Sokoto State, Hajia Asabe Balarabe, welcomed everyone to what she described as an important occasion for distributing food items to vulnerable groups in Sokoto State. “This event is timely as the State Government is tirelessly working to enhance the welfare of the vulnerable in our State,” she added.
Goodwill messages were delivered by the Secretary to the Government of Sokoto State, representatives of His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alh. Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, the Special Adviser to the Sokoto Government on IDPs, and members of the local community.
The event was attended by key officials from the Federal and State Governments, development partners, security agencies, traditional leaders, and community stakeholders, among others.
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