The Federal Government has commenced the distribution of Presidential Emergency Food and Nutrition items in Sokoto State, targeting 20,000 vulnerable households in a fresh push to tackle food insecurity, malnutrition and rising poverty levels.
The flag-off ceremony was held on February 10, 2026, at the Government House in Sokoto, where the Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, described the intervention as a direct response to growing humanitarian concerns across the country.
Sununu said the programme reflects President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to safeguarding the welfare and dignity of vulnerable Nigerians, particularly women, children, the elderly and persons living with disabilities. He explained that the intervention includes essential food supplies and specialised nutrition commodities for the treatment of Severe Acute Malnutrition among children.
According to the minister, therapeutic nutrition supplies will also be delivered to specialist and general hospitals across Sokoto State to strengthen ongoing treatment efforts. He noted that the initiative was approved following projections that millions of Nigerians could face severe hunger due to economic pressures, climate challenges, insecurity and reduced international humanitarian funding.
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Sununu commended the Governor of Sokoto State, Dr. Ahmed Aliyu, for his collaboration with the Federal Government, stating that intergovernmental partnership remains crucial in addressing humanitarian emergencies.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction said the intervention was designed to bridge critical funding gaps created by the withdrawal or scaling down of some international partners. He urged all officials involved in the distribution process to uphold transparency, accountability and fairness to ensure the items reach the intended beneficiaries.
Governor Ahmed Aliyu expressed appreciation to President Tinubu and the Ministry for prioritising vulnerable citizens in Sokoto. He assured residents that the state government would oversee a coordinated and respectful distribution across Sokoto Central, Sokoto East and Sokoto North Senatorial Districts.
The governor reaffirmed his administration’s focus on strengthening social protection systems and supporting federal initiatives aimed at improving living conditions for low-income households and internally displaced persons.
The distribution exercise, carried out in partnership with state authorities and development stakeholders, is part of a broader national strategy that combines emergency relief with long-term measures such as livelihood support, skills acquisition, agricultural recovery and community resilience programmes.
Officials from federal and state governments, security agencies, traditional institutions and community groups attended the ceremony, underscoring the scale and urgency of the humanitarian response in Sokoto State.
