14,694 vulnerable persons benefit from ECOWAS Stabilization Project in Katsina, Sokoto

By Kunle Sanni

The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation has announced that 14,694 vulnerable individuals in Katsina and Sokoto States have benefited from Phase 2 of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Stabilization Project.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Abel Enitan, revealed this during the project’s launch at the Government House in Katsina State.

Enitan stated that the initiative aims to alleviate the challenges faced by vulnerable persons affected by crises and natural disasters, providing nutritional support to children, pregnant and lactating women, the elderly, and the sick.

The project will also include Cash-Based Transfer Vouchers, allowing families the flexibility to prioritize their spending on urgent needs such as food, healthcare, and education.

“Cash-Based Transfer Vouchers will also be provided to families with the flexibility to prioritize their spending according to their most urgent needs, be it food, healthcare, or education,” he said.

“These efforts have the ultimate goal of ensuring a future where peace, stability, and prosperity are not just aspirations but realities for all, consistent with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration,” he added.

Enitan appreciated ECOWAS and the World Food Programme for their continuous support and funding, which has immensely touched the lives of vulnerable persons affected by conflicts, floods, and other forms of natural disasters in the country.

He also thanked the Executive Governor of Katsina State, His Excellency, Dr. Dikko Umaru Radda, for supporting the launch of the initiative in the state.

The Executive Governor of Katsina State, Dikko Radda, noted that the state acknowledges the problem of malnutrition and has therefore continued to prioritize adequate funding for the State Primary Health Care Development Agency under the State Ministry of Health.

“We have already embarked on the construction and establishment of functional primary health centers in 102 wards of the state. Before the end of the tenure, we will have functional primary health centers in all the wards of the state,” Radda stated.

He mentioned that Katsina State is among the few states that have adopted the Federal Government’s approach of assisting vulnerable households at the state level by establishing the Katsina Social Investment Programme Agency (KASIPA).

The Governor thanked ECOWAS, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (FMHAPA), and the WFP for selecting Katsina and Sokoto for the Stabilisation Project. He expressed hope for more partnerships and collaborations.

The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, noted that over the past decade, Nigeria has faced serious security concerns due to the activities of Boko Haram.

Alozie Godfrey, who represented Touray, highlighted the unprecedented loss of lives, displacement, loss of livelihoods, and exacerbation of the food and nutrition crisis.

He commended the Federal Government for remaining resolute and steadfast in protecting the affected populations and communities, ensuring that the crises’ effects do not overwhelm the people by providing humanitarian assistance as well as post-crisis interventions.

“In line with the directives of the Heads of State, the ECOWAS Commission established a Stabilisation Fund with a commitment of one million USD in the 2020 budget as part of its support for the Nigerian Government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan. Following the 2020 budget, another one million USD was approved in the 2023 budget of ECOWAS to further assist victims of the crises in the North. The 2024 Stabilisation Fund has also been approved and is waiting for the government to kick off its implementation,” Godfrey said.

He stated that ECOWAS is committed to its humanitarian principles and will maintain its assistance to Nigeria and other member states during humanitarian emergencies when requested.

He called for enhanced synergy and collaboration with the Federal Government, the World Food Programme, member states, and other United Nations and development partners.

The National Coordinator, Charanchi, commended all stakeholders for supporting vulnerable persons in Katsina State.

Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to ECOWAS, His Excellency Ambassador Nuhu Musa, said the Stabilisation Project is one of several ECOWAS initiatives designed to improve the lives of Nigerians.

The Director of the ECOWAS National Unit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Awe Olawale, also commended the Federal Government’s efforts to address the plight of vulnerable citizens in Nigeria.

The Country Director of WFP Nigeria, David Stevenson, represented by the Programme Policy Officer at WFP, Manuela Reinfeld, stated, “Already during the first phase of our joint effort in 2021/2022, WFP delivered critical food, nutrition, and resilience-building support to vulnerable people in need.

Building on the success of Phase 1 and the lessons learned, we are now ready to embark on the next chapter of our joint journey.

Phase 2 of this partnership is designed to provide a more integrated approach—supporting essential food and nutrition needs while also building the resilience of communities to tackle the root causes of food and nutrition insecurity.

“As part of WFP’s broader engagement in the North West, another 73,000 vulnerable people in 5 Local Government Areas in Katsina are receiving wheat grain, about 2000MT, during the peak of the lean season to supplement the ECOWAS/FMHAPA support.

“WFP will further geographically expand today’s support to provide additional malnutrition supplementation to targeted mothers and children later in the year for local Tom Brown production,” she noted.

The Executive Director and State Coordinator of the Katsina State Social Investment Programme Agency (KASIPA), Dr. Nasiru, stated that 7,347 vulnerable persons from Katsina and Jibia Local Government Areas of the state would benefit from the Stabilisation Project.

One of the beneficiaries, Ahmed Aminu, a 35-year-old sick man who received a cash voucher donation, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government, ECOWAS, and WFP for the kind gesture of remembering the vulnerable in the state.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of food packages and cash-transfer vouchers to beneficiaries by the Governor and other dignitaries.