Remi Tinubu Urges Govs To Establish Community Food Banks

The first lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has urged state governors across the country to establish functional community food banks in their three senatorial districts to strengthen food security and tackle malnutrition among vulnerable populations.

She made the call during the presentation of food items to the wife of Katsina State Governor Hajiya Zulaihat Dikko Radda for onward distribution to vulnerable persons in the state under the Food Outreach Scheme of the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI).

Mrs Tinubu who was represented by the wife of the vice president, Hajiya Nana Shettima, said Katsina State had become the 30th beneficiary of the scheme following successful distributions to 29 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Launched in March 2024 under the Social Investment Programme of the Renewed Hope Initiative, the food outreach scheme provides nutritional support to persons with disabilities, widows and other vulnerable groups to ease their hardship and improve family well-being.

According to a statement by the special assistant to the president on media & ICT, Kwapchi Bata Hamman , the first lady disclosed that the intervention was sustained through the generosity of two partners who provided two truckloads of food items monthly, enabling the Initiative to support two states every month.

As part of efforts to address food insecurity and malnutrition, the first lady also announced the successful completion of the nationwide rollout of the National Community Food Bank Programme designed to combat child malnutrition and support pregnant women and lactating mothers.

She urged state governors to adopt the framework and establish functional community food banks across their senatorial districts, stressing that federal and zonal interventions alone would not be sufficient to address the scale of the challenge.

According to her, stronger collaboration between federal and state governments would help extend nutritional support to more communities and ensure that vulnerable Nigerians have access to essential food supplies.

Governor of Katsina State Mallam Dikko Umaru Radda described the event as a day of hope and renewed commitment to the welfare of the people noting the intervention demonstrated  the federal government’s resolve to reach vulnerable Nigerians at all levels.

He said the initiative was a practical intervention with tangible impact, complementing the efforts of the Katsina State government to improve the well-being of its citizens.

The governor noted that his administration in alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda was working towards building a future where every Nigerian could live with dignity through investments in Education , Healthcare and Agriculture .

He added that the state government had made concerted efforts to improve security across communities by supporting security agencies with the necessary equipment to strengthen their operations.

Governor Radda further stated that the Renewed Hope Agenda is designed to empower Nigerians to achieve their aspirations, urging the people of Katsina State to support the ruling party in the next election to sustain continuity in governance and development.

Hajiya Zulaihat Dikko The Wife of the Katsina State Governor expressed appreciation to the First Lady for the gesture stating that the Renewed Hope Initiative has continued to play an important role in promoting the welfare of Nigerians particularly women, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups through its various social intervention programmes.

Osun , Ogun and Akwa Ibom States are expected to be next beneficiaries of the food distribution Scheme

The food items were formally handed over to the Wife of the Katsina State Governor by Wife of the First President Hajiya Nana Shettima for distribution to the intended beneficiaries.