By Samuel
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has reported there has been a 158 percent increase in the number of those suffering severe food crisis in Kano State.
According to WFP, the number of those suffering from this crisis had risen from 568,000 before the coronavirus pandemic to 1.5 million in October.
The organisation disclosed this in Kano on Monday during the formal launch of its food and cash assistance to the state.
The city’s commercial importance and location, the Organisation said, had accounted for the increase.
WFP’s Country Director in Nigeria, Paul Howe, however, noted that the food and cash aid was majorly to complement the government’s efforts to cushion the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on its citizens.
He added that the gesture would be extended to Lagos and Abuja.
“In the coming weeks and months, WFP will continue to work with the governments of Abuja and Lagos to support the most vulnerable families.
“The Government of Nigeria has shown great commitment and leadership in responding to this crisis.
“This is exactly what we need during this time of pandemic and beyond to achieve zero hunger in Nigeria.
“To minimise the risk of exposure to the virus, WFP has arranged for home deliveries of cash and food. In Kano, food will be delivered using the local ‘ke-ke’ rickshaw service.
“In Lagos, WFP is partnering with the State Government to deliver food using boats to reach families living in the riverine community of Makoko.
“Meanwhile, in all three urban areas, cash will be transferred through prepaid debit cards or online bank transfers”, he explained.
AgroNigeria also gathered that WFP budgeted about N1.1 billion, for this initiative.
The government, on the other hand, also supported the programme with 2,000 metric tonnes of food from its Strategic Grain Reserve which is valued at about N380 million.
In total, 200,000 beneficiaries have been targeted for the initiative, with 67,000 from each target city- Kano, Lagos and Abuja.