First Lady Oluremi Tinubu Launches North-East Community Food Bank in Maiduguri

MAIDUGURI, Borno State – Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has officially inaugurated the National Community Food Bank Programme for the North-East region, in a move aimed at addressing hunger and food insecurity.

Speaking during her visit to Maiduguri on Monday, the First Lady described the initiative as a major humanitarian intervention designed to support vulnerable groups, including malnourished children under six, pregnant and nursing mothers, and low-income households.

According to Okay News, the programme is structured as a grassroots initiative that will see community food banks established across all 774 local government areas in Nigeria. These centres are expected to work closely with primary healthcare facilities to combine nutritional support with basic medical services.

The project has already attracted significant financial commitments, with over ₦66 billion pledged at its launch. The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, revealed key contributions, including ₦20 billion in-kind support over five years from the Aliko Dangote Foundation, a ₦17 billion intervention approved by President Bola Tinubu, and ₦10 billion from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited over the same period. The Emeka Offor Foundation also contributed ₦500 million.

Beyond emergency food relief, the initiative aims to strengthen local food systems through a voucher-based distribution model that prioritizes locally sourced and nutritious food. In collaboration with the Bank of Agriculture, it is also expected to improve maternal and child health outcomes, especially in conflict-affected areas where supply chains have been disrupted.

The First Lady emphasized that the programme represents a significant step toward achieving nationwide food security and improving the well-being of Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations.