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From Geoffrey Anyanwu, Enugu
Governor Peter Mbah has expressed determination of his government to ensure that no citizen of Enugu State goes to bed hungry.
Consequently, he has flagged off the state’s Sustainable Food Distribution Programme, an intervention aimed at providing locally produced food items to vulnerable households for 12 consecutive months.
Mbah, who was represented at the event held at the International Conference Centre by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, noted that the United Nations had described food insecurity as one of the most stubborn contemporary challenges, which affected over 735 million people worldwide in 2020.
“But as a responsible and responsive government, we believe that no citizen of the state should go to bed hungry. This is not just a political obligation; it is a moral one,” the governor stated.
He explained that the Sustainable Food Distribution programme, which is one of the bold initiatives of the Enugu State Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Office will start with 500 households and would be expanded to fight hunger and improve nutrition among the poor in the state.
Mbah stressed that his administration was aware that sustainable food security could not be achieved through seasonal interventions, hence the government’s long-term systems through huge investments in agriculture, empowering small-scale farmers through training, provision of agro-inputs, agricultural grants, and investing in systems that mitigate the effects of climate change.
“So, the Sustainable Food Distribution Programme is more than just a palliative measure. It is a structured, strategic, and sustainable response to food insecurity.
“We are empowering rural farmers and food producers by integrating them into our supply chain, partnering with communities, community leaders, clergy, civil society organisations, and private sector actors to ensure transparency, equity, and efficiency in distribution; and most importantly, we are aligning this intervention with the SDGs, specifically Goal 2, which speaks to zero hunger; Goal 1, which speaks to no poverty; Goal 10, to reduced inequality; and finally Goal 17, which talks about partnership for these goals.”
The governor commended the Enugu State SDGs Office, led by the SDG Focal Person and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on SDGs, Engr. Onyinye Akubuilo-Okpalanma; private sector partners, Sapphire Ceramics Nigeria Limited, Jenew Homes Nig. Ltd., Enugu East LG Council, among others, for making the event a reality.
Akubuilo-Okpalanma said the food distribution programme was “deeply symbolic of the collective commitment to ending hunger, promoting inclusive wellbeing, and improving nutrition among our vulnerable.”
She thanked Governor Mbah for his support for the SDGs in policy and in practice.
At the event, rice, beans, potatoes, groundnut oil, salt, soap, and other condiments were distributed to the beneficiaries, who in appreciation prayed God to continue to guide the governor to realise his vision of eradicating poverty and hunger from the state in eight years.
