 to support communities affected by last September’s floods){kind=link}
By: Babagana Bukar Wakil, Maiduguri
The African Development Bank AfDB has provided $1 million in funding to the World Food Programme (WFP) to support communities affected by last September’s floods in Borno State.
The financial assistance, drawn from AfDB’s Special Relief Fund, aims to bolster emergency food response efforts for flood victims in Northeastern Nigeria. According to AfDB, the funds will aid 120,000 affected households.
Speaking at the official distribution event held at the Mechanical Workshop in Maiduguri, WFP and Borno State government officials coordinated the disbursement of food and cash transfers to 1,458 selected beneficiaries.
WFP’s Country Director for Nigeria, David Stevenson, praised AfDB for its crucial support, emphasizing that the intervention is already making an impact.
“Our responsibility at WFP is to act swiftly. Within 24 hours of the disaster, we provided hot meals to affected people in Maiduguri, scaling up to 70,000 beneficiaries within 48 hours,” Stevenson said.
He added that beyond immediate relief, WFP is collaborating with the Borno State government to develop long-term recovery solutions for flood victims, helping them rebuild their livelihoods.
AfDB’s Director General for Nigeria, Abdul Kamara, described the $1 million contribution as the beginning of a broader commitment to Borno’s recovery.
“$1 million may seem small, but leveraging WFP’s established structures ensures rapid impact. This is just the start—our partnership will go beyond this initial support,” Kamara assured.
Judit Obaseki, WFP’s Northeast Identity Management Officer, disclosed that 50,000 households across six locations have already benefited from the initiative. Each recipient received a multipurpose cash transfer of ₦100,000, along with 25kg of fortified rice and 10kg of fortified beans.
“The food and cash assistance will help my family stay out of hunger and allow me to start a small business,” said 45-year-old Hauwa Ibrahim, a widow and mother of six.
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