The Federal Government has convened the inaugural meeting of the Steering Committee for the National Community Food Bank Programme, marking a critical step in driving coordinated implementation of the initiative across the country.

Speaking at the meeting in Abuja, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, charged members of the Committee to move decisively from planning to execution, emphasising that the success of the programme will be measured by tangible impact on vulnerable communities.

“This Committee must ensure that implementation is not only coordinated, but effective. This is not about meetings, but about results that improve the lives of Nigerians,” the Minister stated.

The National Community Food Bank Programme, an initiative of Her Excellency, Oluremi Tinubu, is designed to address acute malnutrition and strengthen community-level food and nutrition support systems across all 774 Local Government Areas.

The Steering Committee, chaired by the Coordinating Minister, comprises senior representatives from key government institutions, including the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, as well as the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, represented by the Honourable Minister of State and the Permanent Secretary. The Committee also includes leadership of critical implementing agencies such as the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA).

This high-level, multi-sectoral composition reflects a whole-of-government approach, recognising that food security and nutrition outcomes require coordinated action across health, agriculture, social protection, and community systems.

The Committee is expected to provide strategic oversight, drive alignment across sectors, support resource mobilisation, and ensure that implementation remains accountable, transparent, and responsive to national priorities.

The meeting also outlined a structured coordination framework to guide the Committee’s work, including regular performance reviews, stakeholder engagement, and mechanisms to track progress and outcomes as the programme scales nationwide.

The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that the National Community Food Bank Programme delivers measurable improvements in nutrition, reduces vulnerability, and contributes to stronger, more resilient communities.

The programme is set for official flag-off in Borno State this April.