The Federal Government has announced plans to utilise Nigeria’s network of more than 13,000 Primary Health Care Centres (PHCs) to provide nutritious food assistance to vulnerable pregnant women and children under the age of six.
The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Muyi Aina, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja while presenting the operational framework for the newly introduced National Community Food Bank intervention.
Aina explained that the health-driven social protection initiative is in line with the Eight-Point Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He clarified that the programme would not operate as an independent food distribution effort but would function as an extension of existing maternal and child health services offered through PHCs across the country.
According to him, trained health personnel will evaluate pregnant women and mothers of young children who attend health facilities, determine their vulnerability status, and register qualified beneficiaries in a digital database connected to their National Identification Number.
“Only those assessed as vulnerable within the health system will receive vouchers for monthly food supplies,” he said.
He stated that beneficiaries would redeem the vouchers at community food banks situated near PHCs to guarantee accessibility and limit diversion.
The NPHCDA chief noted that combining food assistance with antenatal services, immunisation programmes, and child growth monitoring would enhance nutrition outcomes, promote early childhood development, and improve school readiness.
“This is about protecting Nigeria’s future human capital. Nutrition begins from pregnancy, and the health system provides the most reliable platform to reach mothers and children,” he said.
He further explained that the initiative is expected to boost local economies, as food supplies will be sourced from local farmers and fishermen through the Bank of Agriculture, thereby creating a link between agriculture, health, and social investment.
To promote transparency, Aina said beneficiaries would be digitally tracked, while performance and financial management officers, along with community-based committees, would supervise implementation to curb leakages.
He emphasised that community participation would play a vital role in the success of the programme and called on traditional and religious leaders to support transparency and ensure that only qualified mothers and children benefit.
“The programme will be funded through a dedicated trust fund chaired by the First Lady and housed in the Bank of Agriculture, drawing contributions from government, private sector partners and well-meaning Nigerians,” he said.
Aina described the intervention as a “multi-sectoral reform effort”, involving the Ministries of Health and Social Welfare, Agriculture, Budget and Planning, and Women’s Affairs and Youth Development.
He added that beyond addressing immediate food insecurity, the initiative would reinforce Nigeria’s primary healthcare system by broadening its preventive and social health functions.
“With over 13,000 PHCs nationwide, we now have the infrastructure to deliver integrated health and nutrition support,” he said.
He indicated that the rollout would begin with advocacy and stakeholder consultations, followed by the establishment of food banks at the community level and the enrollment of eligible beneficiaries.
