By Okey Muogbo
The World Food Programme (WFP) of the United Nations (UN) has warned that about 25 million Nigerians face acute hunger between June and August this year.
David Stevenson, WFP Representative and Country Director to Nigeria who gave the warning on Wednesday said WFP has budgeted about $25.56 billion to help fight food insecurity in the country.
He was addressing a Joint Media Briefing organised by the Programme with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development at the UN House.
Stevenson said that he was “happy to inform you all that the WFP Executive Board has approved a new Country Strategic Plan (CSP) for Nigeria.
“The CSP defines WFP’s entire portfolio of assistance within the country for 2023-2027. The CSP is valued at US$2.56 billion and is designed to support Nigeria in achieving food security and improved nutrition by 2030, in line with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 2).
“WFP’s support is delivered through lifesaving crisis response and lifechanging resilience building activities – together with technical assistance and policy advice to help maximize the return on the government’s investment in food security and nutrition.
“The CSP, which took effective from March 2023, is aligned with Nigeria’s National Development Plan (2021-2025), Nigeria Agenda (2050), the National Multi-Sectoral Plan of Action for Food and Nutrition (2021-2025) and the National Humanitarian Development Peace Framework. The CSP is also consistent with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Nigeria (2023-2027)”, he said.
He went on to explain some of the activities of the Programme saying: “As WFP, we deliver humanitarian frontline results. With our partners who share our goal of Zero Hunger in Nigeria, we go where others do not go, in line with our mandate of “Saving Lives, Changing Lives”.
“WFP operates a food system that sees conflict as the enemy of progress. WFP is also making significant investments in the Nigerian economy.
“We buy locally, we invest locally, helping to build up the national economy. We purchase right here in Nigeria over 90 percent of the food WFP distributes to vulnerable persons in the country, with WFP investing over 775,000 USD per day in Nigeria.”
The resources for WFP operations, he further said derive from voluntary contributions pledged solely to WFP adding that disbursements under this CSP will therefore be dependent on the level of resources provided by donors to WFP.
In this regard, Stevenson appealed for Nigerians’ partnership in supporting the mobilization of required funding which he said was crucial to the success of this CSP.
“In addition, host governments are expected to contribute to the costs of WFP country offices in accordance with WFP Financial Regulations.
Speaking on the areas of interest to the Programme, the Country Representative said: “WFP works in various sectors relating to the attainment of food security and Zero Hunger in Nigeria.
“Our biggest contribution remains the lifesaving and life-changing work we have supported in the northeast and increasingly in the northwest of Nigeria. The conflict in northeast Nigeria has left millions of people struggling with hunger.
“As food insecurity continues to spike in Nigeria, over 25 million people are projected to face acute hunger at the peak of the June-August 2023 lean season.
“In Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) states alone, some 4.4 million people are projected to face acute hunger at the peak of the lean season this year. Some 2 million children are projected to be acutely malnourished in the northeast states alone.
“Permit me to say that humanitarian aid has not kept pace with this sharp rise in hunger levels. Overall, WFP is assisting some 2.1 million vulnerable people in Nigeria in 2023 – through food assistance and nutrition support, cash payments and livelihoods projects to help build back the resilience of the people affected by conflict”/ he stated.
Stevenson said that the escalating inflation in Nigeria was negatively affecting the work of the Programme as well as the Russian-Ukraine conflict which he said, has led to scarcity of wheat.
In his speech, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Dr Sani Gwarzo commended the WFP for it efforts in Nigeria.
Below is the full text of Mr David Stevenson’s Address:
It is my pleasure to welcome you all to this joint Media Briefing with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is the largest humanitarian organization fighting hunger worldwide. Since 2016, WFP has been working in Nigeria with the Government, partners and other stakeholders to deliver on its mandate of Zero Hunger.
New CSP
I am incredibly happy to inform you all that the WFP Executive Board has approved a new Country Strategic Plan (CSP) for Nigeria. The CSP defines WFP’s entire portfolio of assistance within the country for 2023-2027. The CSP is valued at US$2.56 billion and is designed to support Nigeria in achieving food security and improved nutrition by 2030, in line with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 2).
The CSP also seeks to contribute to progress in good health and wellbeing, inclusive education, gender equality and climate action and foster a reinforced partnership in strengthening the national humanitarian and development response, all in accordance with the SDGs. WFP’s support is delivered through lifesaving crisis response and lifechanging resilience building activities – together with technical assistance and policy advice to help maximize the return on the government’s investment in food security and nutrition.
The CSP, which took effective from March 2023, is aligned with Nigeria’s National Development Plan (2021-2025), Nigeria Agenda (2050), the National Multi-Sectoral Plan of Action for Food and Nutrition (2021-2025) and the National Humanitarian Development Peace Framework. The CSP is also consistent with the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Nigeria (2023-2027).
As WFP, we deliver humanitarian frontline results. With our partners who share our goal of Zero Hunger in Nigeria, we go where others do not go, in line with our mandate of “Saving Lives, Changing Lives”. WFP operates a food system that sees conflict as the enemy of progress. WFP is also making significant investments in the Nigerian economy. We buy locally, we invest locally, helping to build up the national economy. We purchase right here in Nigeria over 90 percent of the food WFP distributes to vulnerable persons in the country, with WFP investing over 775,000 USD per day in Nigeria.
The resources for WFP operations derive from voluntary contributions pledged solely to WFP. Disbursements under this CSP will therefore be dependent on the level of resources provided by donors to WFP. Your partnership in supporting the mobilization of required funding is crucial to the success of this CSP. In addition, host governments are expected to contribute to the costs of WFP country offices in accordance with WFP Financial Regulations.
WFP’s work in Nigeria
WFP works in various sectors relating to the attainment of food security and Zero Hunger in Nigeria. Our biggest contribution remains the lifesaving and life-changing work we have supported in the northeast and increasingly in the northwest of Nigeria. The conflict in northeast Nigeria has left millions of people struggling with hunger.
As food insecurity continues to spike in Nigeria, over 25 million people are projected to face acute hunger at the peak of the June-August 2023 lean season. In Borno, Adamawa and Yobe (BAY) states alone, some 4.4 million people are projected to face acute hunger at the peak of the lean season this year. Some 2 million children are projected to be acutely malnourished in the northeast states alone. Permit me to say that humanitarian aid has not kept pace with this sharp rise in hunger levels. Overall, WFP is assisting some 2.1 million vulnerable people in Nigeria in 2023 – through food assistance and nutrition support, cash payments and livelihoods projects to help build back the resilience of the people affected by conflict.
I like also to mention WFP’s contributions to other durable solutions like support to small holder farmers; financial services; supply chain, support to the transport industry; social protection; post-harvest management and food security analyses. All the initiatives outlined above are very much in line with WFP’s mandate of Zero Hunger – within the framework of the new CSP.
WFP’s collaboration with FMHADMSD
Finally, I wish to commend our Government partners, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, for the effective collaboration and support we have received from them. Indeed, WFP’s collaboration with the Ministry has yielded a lot of dividends.
WFP supported the FMHADMSD to develop two critical policies: the National Cash and Voucher Assistance Policy (NCVAP), to assist the people in need; and the National Home-Grown School Feeding programme (NHGSF). Both policies were endorsed last month by the Federal Executive Council – to the credit of the mutual cooperation between WFP and the FMHADMSD.
In conclusion, my simple message to you is this: WFP is here for Nigeria and for Nigerians – to assist in achieving the Big Goal of Zero Hunger in Nigeria.
Thank you.
David Stevenson,
WFP Representative and Country Director to Nigeria