The Federal Government has flagged off the distribution of Presidential Emergency Food and Nutrition Support to vulnerable households in Plateau State as part of efforts to tackle food insecurity and strengthen humanitarian response systems nationwide.
The flag-off ceremony took place on Monday at the Government House, Little Rayfield in Jos.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Bernard M. Doro, said the intervention demonstrates the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to support vulnerable Nigerians under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Doro described the visit as both professionally significant and personally meaningful, noting that Plateau State played a key role in shaping his values and dedication to public service.
“Returning home in my capacity as a Minister of the Federal Republic to deliver this intervention is both a professional responsibility and a deeply personal duty. Plateau is not just my home; it is part of the story that shaped who I am,” he said.
He explained that climate-related disruptions, insecurity and displacement have continued to place pressure on household livelihoods and food systems across many communities, particularly affecting women, children, the elderly and persons with disabilities.
According to the minister, the initiative is designed to provide immediate relief to vulnerable households while linking them to long-term government social protection and economic empowerment programmes.
Doro highlighted the Federal Government’s reform initiative under the One Humanitarian–One Poverty Response System (OHOPRS), which integrates humanitarian interventions with sustainable poverty reduction programmes.
He noted that beneficiaries will also be connected to broader government initiatives including conditional cash transfers, livelihood restoration programmes, agricultural productivity support, skills development initiatives and micro-enterprise financing.
“Our objective is clear: to break the cycle of recurring humanitarian dependency and move vulnerable households toward resilience, stability and long-term prosperity,” he stated.
The minister also disclosed that the Federal Government is expanding the National Social Register to improve the identification of vulnerable households and ensure their inclusion in federal social protection programmes.
He assured that the ministry would work closely with the Plateau State Government to ensure eligible beneficiaries are captured and integrated into additional support initiatives.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Olubunmi Olusanya, said the programme is part of the Presidential Initiative for Emergency Food and Nutrition Assistance targeting states facing food insecurity and nutrition challenges.
He explained that humanitarian needs in Plateau State have been intensified by security challenges, communal conflicts and climate-related pressures that have disrupted farming activities and household livelihoods in several communities.
In his remarks, Plateau State Governor, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, described the intervention as timely support for citizens amid ongoing economic reforms.
Using a local analogy, the governor said when children are hungry while food is still cooking, parents often provide something small to sustain them while they wait for the main meal.
“This intervention represents immediate relief for vulnerable Nigerians as broader economic reforms begin to produce lasting results,” he said.
Mutfwang also reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to boosting agricultural production, revealing that the government has procured large quantities of fertilizer to be distributed to farmers at subsidised rates across all local government areas.
He added that Plateau would continue to strengthen its position as one of Nigeria’s major food-producing states.
Also speaking at the event, the immediate past Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Nentawe Yilwatda, commended President Tinubu for prioritising social protection programmes aimed at supporting vulnerable Nigerians.
Highlights of the ceremony included the symbolic launch of the distribution exercise, during which selected beneficiaries received food and nutrition support items. Officials also visited the Plateau State Specialist Hospital and the Bingham University Teaching Hospital to deliver essential food items and medical supplies.
