By Gbenga Akingbule
Federal Government, World Food Programme, and Borno State Government are promoting year-round farming to enhance food security, resilience, and livelihoods among IDPs, returnees, and host communities, reducing reliance on handouts.
Gatekeepers News reports that the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Poverty Reduction, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, said on Monday that food handouts to vulnerable communities are no longer sustainable.
This was disclosed during Prof Yilwatda’s visit to Konduga Local Government, a community where a recent explosion caused by a suspected Boko Haram suicide bomber resulted in fatalities and injuries among residents.
According to the Minister, 998 hectares of land were cultivated where 6,098 IDPs, returning communities, and host communities benefited in Ngala and Konduga local government areas of Borno.
The beneficiaries were supported with solar-powered water pumps, rice, tomatoes, onions and vegetable seeds, as well as N198,000 cash each.
“Giving food handouts is no longer sustainable, that is why the Federal Government is partnering with the World Food Program and the Borno state government to support the IDPs not only to produce food of their own but also have something to buy things for themselves.
“This kind of partnership is the partnership we need; we are going to expand our investments. I am happy to see how the People of Konduga and Ngala local government area have embraced this renewed initiative of the Federal Government. They now not only have food on their table but have more to sell”, the minister said.
Prof. Yilwatda said:” I am also happy to see that local food supplements were being produced and distributed to mothers and caregivers to give to their children in our efforts in addressing malnutrition. Before, billions of Naira were been spent on the importation of these food supplements, but today I am happy we are producing it locally here in Konduga”.
Addressing the beneficiaries, the minister said, ” I have been directed by the President and Commander in Chief, President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, to come and see you and also commend you for embracing this initiative. The Federal Government is doing everything to ensure peace is restored to the Northeast. We’re going to spend more, I want to see next time, I come to see more harvest”.
He therefore commended the World Food Program for the partnership and assured them of the continued collaboration.
