Nigeria’s National Community Food Bank Programme has attracted pledges exceeding N66 billion following its official launch and inauguration of a Board of Trustees in Abuja.
The announcement was made by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, during a keynote address at the State House Conference Centre. The event was hosted by the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu.
Leading the private sector contributions is the Aliko Dangote Foundation, which pledged N20 billion in-kind support over five years. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited followed with a N10 billion commitment within the same period.
Other contributions include a N500 million upfront pledge from the Emeka Offor Foundation, as well as $500,000 (approximately N750 million) donated by anonymous supporters of the First Lady.
In addition, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved a N17 billion intervention fund through the Social Action Fund to bolster the initiative.
According to Pate, the intervention will support community-based procurement across Nigeria’s wards, using simplified mechanisms to source food locally and strengthen grassroots distribution systems.
He further noted that if all 36 state governors contribute the proposed N500 million each, the programme could receive an additional N18 billion, pushing the total funding pool beyond N66 billion.
