The Enugu State Government has launched a comprehensive, year-long food distribution programme to support vulnerable households, marking a major step in its fight against hunger and food insecurity across the state.
Unveiled on Tuesday at the International Conference Centre in Enugu, the initiative will provide monthly food aid to targeted beneficiaries for the next 12 months. At its commencement, over 500 households received food packages that included 10kg bags of rice, groundnut oil, salt, soap, and other essentials.
Governor Peter Mbah, represented at the event by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Chidiebere Onyia, said the programme reflects a deep moral commitment to the welfare of citizens. He acknowledged the scale of food insecurity both globally and nationally, citing United Nations data indicating that at least 735 million people faced hunger in 2020. In Nigeria, he said, the impact remains severe, especially among those facing economic shocks, displacement, and extreme poverty.
He stressed that the initiative goes beyond temporary relief. Framed as a sustainable response to food insecurity, the programme is designed to reduce hunger through a long-term, structured strategy that connects food distribution with broader development goals.
In a move to deepen its impact, the state is sourcing food items directly from local farmers, creating a supply chain that not only provides food to those in need but also injects capital into the rural economy. The state government is also collaborating with traditional rulers, faith-based organisations, civil society groups, and private sector actors to ensure fair distribution and accountability.
Governor Mbah noted that the programme aligns with key Sustainable Development Goals, including zero hunger, no poverty, reduced inequality, and multi-stakeholder partnerships, adding that addressing hunger requires coordinated, inclusive action across sectors.
Speaking at the event, Onyinye Akubilo-Okpalanma, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor and focal person for the SDGs, said the initiative was conceived under the SDG Office with the full support of the governor. She described it as a symbol of the administration’s commitment to ending hunger and improving nutrition among the most vulnerable communities.
Akubilo-Okpalanma outlined the programme’s foundation on three key pillars: targeted support for vulnerable households, strong community participation and transparency, and the prioritisation of local sourcing to drive economic inclusion. She expressed gratitude to private sector contributors such as Sapphire and Ceramic Nigeria Limited and acknowledged the support of the Enugu East Council Chairman, Mr. Beloved-Dan Anike, in facilitating the programme’s rollout.
The launch marks a significant step in Enugu’s efforts to address hunger at both the grassroots and systemic levels, linking food aid to development and economic resilience.
