The Federal Government has launched the Presidential Food and Nutrition Assistance Programme in Plateau State as part of efforts to support vulnerable households and address food insecurity across affected communities.
The programme was officially flagged off on Monday at the New Government House, Little Rayfield, Jos, with federal and state government officials, humanitarian partners, traditional rulers and community representatives in attendance.
The intervention, under the Renewed Hope Agenda of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is part of the Presidential Emergency Food and Nutrition Assistance Initiative designed to provide immediate relief to vulnerable households while strengthening long-term social protection systems.
As part of the intervention, 2,000 vulnerable persons in Plateau State are expected to benefit from the distribution exercise. Each beneficiary received food items including bags of rice, beans and maize, as well as palm oil, groundnut oil, seasoning cubes (Maggi), salt and sachet tomato to support household nutrition and food security.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Benard Doro, said the intervention was a deliberate and data-driven effort aimed at supporting Nigeria’s most vulnerable citizens.
According to him, the programme prioritises women-headed households, malnourished children, the elderly and persons living with disabilities, as well as communities facing severe economic hardship.
“The food and nutrition assistance being distributed today has been carefully structured to address immediate dietary needs while protecting long-term human capital outcomes, particularly for children,” he said.
Doro explained that the Federal Government is implementing a national reform through the One Humanitarian and One Poverty Response System (OHOPRS), which aims to link humanitarian assistance with long-term social protection programmes.
He noted that households benefiting from the emergency assistance would also be connected to other government initiatives, including conditional cash transfers, agricultural support programmes, livelihood restoration initiatives and micro-enterprise financing.
“Our objective is to break the cycle of repeated humanitarian dependency and move vulnerable households toward resilience, stability and long-term prosperity,” the minister said.
He also disclosed that the Federal Government is expanding the National Social Register to ensure that vulnerable households across the country are properly identified and integrated into social protection programmes.
The minister further revealed that the government is developing the 2026 National Anticipatory Action Framework to strengthen disaster preparedness and climate resilience across the country.
The framework, he said, would institutionalise early warning systems, pre-arranged financing mechanisms and coordinated preparedness measures to enable government institutions and partners respond to disasters before they escalate into humanitarian crises.
“Our goal is to move Nigeria from reactive disaster response to proactive protection of lives and livelihoods,” he added.
Doro credited the initiative to President Tinubu, noting that the administration has placed the welfare of poor and vulnerable Nigerians at the centre of governance.
He also commended the Plateau State Governor, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, for collaborating with the Federal Government in addressing humanitarian challenges in the state.
Also speaking at the event, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Nentawe Yilwatda, called for unity among political leaders and residents of Plateau State to accelerate development.
Yilwatda described the programme as part of broader social protection initiatives under the Tinubu administration aimed at supporting vulnerable Nigerians.
He highlighted several federal government interventions, including cash transfer programmes benefiting millions of households, expanded health insurance coverage for low-income citizens, reduced dialysis treatment costs and student loan support for indigent students.
“These initiatives demonstrate the government’s commitment to protecting the most vulnerable segments of society,” he said.
Yilwatda also urged political leaders in Plateau State to set aside their differences and work together for the progress of the state.
“The future of Plateau is greater than any political differences we may have had. We must build bridges and work together for the development of our people,” he added.
In his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Olubunmi Olusanya, said the programme was initiated to address rising food insecurity and nutrition challenges in several northern states.
He explained that Plateau State has experienced humanitarian pressures in recent years due to communal conflicts, climate-related shocks and disruptions to rural livelihoods.
“These challenges have affected household incomes and food production, making it difficult for many families to meet basic needs,” he said.
Olusanya noted that the Federal Government is working closely with the Plateau State Government and other stakeholders to ensure that the distribution process remains transparent and reaches the most vulnerable households.
Welcoming dignitaries to the event, the Secretary to the Plateau State Government, Samuel Jatau, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for selecting Plateau State as one of the beneficiaries of the intervention.
He assured that the state government would support the programme to ensure the effective distribution of food and nutrition items to affected households.
Earlier in the day, Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang flagged off the distribution of Teaching and Learning Materials (TLMs) to the 17 Local Government Areas of Plateau State at the Plateau State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) headquarters in Dogon Duste, Jos.
The governor supervised the distribution of 143,931 textbooks, 6,675 school bags, 6,675 pairs of school sandals, as well as pencils and exercise books aimed at improving learning conditions in public schools across the state.
He also commissioned and inspected a newly constructed administrative office block for the Plateau SUBEB, which features 19 offices, eight toilets and a solar-powered facility.
The governor further decorated pupils from Plateau State who emerged victorious at the recently concluded National Basic Education School Sports (BESS) Competition in Bauchi, recognizing their achievements as a source of pride for the state.
The ceremony concluded with the official commencement of the distribution of food and nutrition items to vulnerable households across Plateau State.
Stakeholders described the initiative as a significant step in the Federal Government’s broader strategy to restore dignity, strengthen livelihoods and support vulnerable Nigerians toward sustainable economic opportunities.