The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission and the World Food Program (WFP) have provided $1.6 million to help fight rising malnutrition and poverty in Katsina and Sokoto states.
The areas have witnessed a rise in poverty and malnutrition as a result of a surge in banditry and internal displacement in the North West.
Donation of palliative to the North West by the WFP is expected to increase to the troubled North West region as a total of 5,00O metric tonne of wheat donated by the Ukrainian government is scheduled to be received at the weekend.
The Deputy Head of Programme WFP, Manuela Reinfield disclosed on Friday at the launch of the second phase of the ECOWAS, WFP, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affair Stabilization Project for 2024/2025 in Katsina.
Reinfield, while noting that the project took off at the right time, given the deteriorating food security situation and insecurity situation in the North West, said the Stabilization Project aims at providing monthly cash transfer support of N11,500 to about 14,500 beneficiaries in both Katsina and Sokoto states for the next six months.
She revealed that nutritious food, consisting of a corn-soya blend, to pregnant and lactating women and their children under-2 years to prevent malnutrition will also be distributed in both states.
She added that Katsina and Zamfara states would get unconditional food assistance with the wheat grain expected to arrive in the country from Ukraine on Sunday
The Permanent Representative of Nigeria in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Amb. Sani Nuhu explained that the regional bloc which had established a Stabilization Fund to assist victims of terrorism and banditry in the region decided on humanitarian assistance to the Northwest because of the sad situation
He said: “ECOWAS Commission came up with the idea of setting aside $1 million to be given to Nigeria every year to come up with a program on providing social alleviation initiatives to victims of insecurity in the northeast and the Northwest.
