African Development Bank (AfDB) has provided a $1-million grant from its Special Relief Fund to support emergency food response in flood-affected communities in northeastern Nigeria, in collaboration with the World Food Programme.

The assistance follows the devastating floods that hit Borno State in September 2024, exacerbating food insecurity in a region already struggling with the impact of conflict, displacement and poverty.

WFP’s Country Director in Nigeria, David Stevenson, who disclosed this on Thursday in Maiduguri, said that floods displaced families who had begun rebuilding their lives after years of violence, making it even harder for them to support themselves.

AfDB’s support is timely and comes as a lifeline for those struggling to feed themselves, amid rising food prices and economic turmoil.

The Cadre Harmonisé analysis, a biannual assessment of food security in 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) projects that 33 million Nigerians could be food insecure by August 2025, Stevenson said.

AfDB’s Director-General for Nigeria, Abdul Kamara, expressed hope that the funding would help to ease the suffering of vulnerable communities.

“I commend the Federal Government of Nigeria and WFP for the efforts to operate in such a challenging environment to improve the lives of Nigerian families,” Mr Kamara said.

He explained that the new funding complemented AfDB’s ongoing efforts to restructure the Programme for Integrated Agricultural Development, Adaptation to Climate Change (PIDACC) and the Inclusive Basic Service Delivery and Livelihood Empowerment Programme, which provide essential services in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

“As part of the Borno State Development Plan, WFP delivers food and nutrition assistance to one million people in Borno State each month,” he added.

He added that the agency also trains healthcare workers to screen and manage acute malnutrition among women and children, while promoting maternal, infant and young child nutrition practices.

The AfDB is Africa’s leading development finance institution, operating in 44 African countries and supporting economic growth and social progress across its 54 regional member states.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) is the world’s largest humanitarian organisation, providing life-saving assistance in emergencies and using food aid to foster peace, stability and resilience in communities affected by conflict and climate change.

(NAN)