COVID-19: WFP, FG launch food, cash supports for 500,000 vulnerable people

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the federal government on Tuesday launched a cash and food assistance programme targeting 500,000 vulnerable people in the three urban COVID-19 hotspots of Abuja, Kano and Lagos.

The federal government had released 2,000 metric tons of food from its Strategic Grain Reserve (valued at US$1 million), while WFP is releasing US$3 million to provide cash assistance.

This is the first time that WFP is expanding its programme in Nigeria to reach people in towns and cities – where millions of people are threatened with hunger and malnutrition due to the socio-economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The World Food Programme doing this in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to identify the extremely poor in these three densely urban cities, which is the epic centres of coronavirus pandemic.

WFP’s Country Director and Representative, Mr Paul Howe, said that the “Government of Nigeria has shown great commitment and leadership in responding to this crisis. This is exactly what we need during this time of pandemic and beyond to achieve Zero Hunger in Nigeria.”

To minimise the risk of exposure to the virus, WFP has arranged for home deliveries of cash and food. In Kano, food will be delivered using the local ‘ke-ke‘ rickshaw service. In Lagos, WFP is partnering with the State Government to deliver food using boats to reach families living in the riverine community of Makoko. Meanwhile, in all three urban areas, cash will be transferred through pre-paid debit cards or online bank transfers.

The UN agency said that the distribution of cash and food began in Kano State to complement the government’s ongoing efforts to cushion the impact of the pandemic.

In the coming weeks and months, WFP said it will continue to work with the authorities in Abuja and Lagos to support the most vulnerable families.

With lack of income and increasing food prices, more and more people are finding it extremely difficult to meet their food needs.