The Federal Government of Nigeria has formally requested a $1 million grant from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to provide emergency food assistance to citizens impacted by the devastating 2024 floods. The floods, which have affected 29 states, displaced over 200,000 people, and destroyed more than 500,000 hectares of farmland, have led to a dire need for food security interventions.
This initiative, set to target 122,253 individuals across 16 of the hardest-hit districts, will provide essential food packages containing 25kg of rice and 10kg of beans to the most affected households. The distribution is scheduled to take place between October 2024 and February 2025.
The Federal Government has already distributed rice and spaghetti as part of its initial relief efforts, but this additional support is expected to complement those efforts. According to the proposal, the funding from AfDB’s Special Relief Fund (SRF) will work alongside the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to identify the affected communities and ensure the timely delivery of food aid.
The goal is to provide critical food supplies to diversify the food basket of those affected, addressing immediate consumption needs and helping to protect livelihoods. The one-time transfer will provide each affected household with 35kg of food—25kg of rice and 10kg of beans—to support their food security during the four-month emergency period.
This initiative is part of ongoing efforts by the Nigerian government and its partners to address the food insecurity crisis caused by the floods, ensuring that vulnerable populations are able to recover and rebuild.