The Government of Ukraine has generously donated 25,000 tonnes of wheat to provide emergency food to aid 1.3 million vulnerable individuals facing hardships due to rising inflation and soaring food prices in the country.

The donation was confirmed in a statement issued by Senior Communications and Public Diplomacy Officer at the British High Commission’s Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office Atinuke Akande-Alegbe on Friday.

According to her, this contribution is part of Ukraine’s compassionate “Grain from Ukraine” initiative, spearheaded by President Volodymyr Zelensky, and facilitated under the auspices of the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) response in northeast Nigeria.

Akande-Alegbe revealed that the collaborative effort to transport the grains from Ukraine to Nigeria involved key nations, including the UK, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Luxembourg, Norway, the Republic of Korea, and Sweden.

Speaking about the motivation behind this initiative, the High Commission’s spokesperson expressed concern for the plight of vulnerable families in Nigeria. “The grains intervention was informed by the soaring prices of staple food in Nigeria, which have pushed basic meals out of the reach of millions of vulnerable families across the country.”

Highlighting the global significance of such assistance during challenging times, the spokesperson stated, “This is a really tough time for many people across the world, including in Nigeria. It is important that we help the most vulnerable populations.”

The UK took pride in being part of this global initiative, emphasizing the impact it can make. “The UK is proud to be part of the global community supporting WFP to distribute lifesaving grain across Nigeria, reaching over 600,000 people. This contribution will go some way to addressing rising food insecurity, driven by conflict and regional instability. We continue to back measures that help reduce its impact in Nigeria, support livelihoods and promote peace.”

British High Commission Development Director, Cynthia Rowe, shed light on the challenges faced by northeast Nigeria due to conflicts and violence.

“Deadly conflicts and persistent violence in northeast Nigeria have driven millions of people out of their homes, off their farms and across the region, jeopardizing agriculture and livelihoods production.”

Rowe also emphasized the recent surge in staple food prices, affecting vulnerable families who rely on harvests and markets for their supplies.