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The House of Representatives has declared its readiness to fully support the MATAN Food Bank Professionals Association of Nigeria’s new Automated MATAN Food Security Initiative (AMFSI), describing the programme as a transformative intervention capable of resolving up to 90 percent of Nigeria’s food security challenges.
This position was made known at the end of the association’s three-day national programme in Lagos, where the member representing Bassa/Dekina Federal Constituency, Hon. Haruna Gowon, delivered the keynote address.
Hon. Gowon stressed that the National Assembly considers food security a top national priority, noting that it remains more critical than any other form of security.
“Food security promotes physical and mental health, reduces health risks, supports development, prevents malnutrition, increases productivity, alleviates poverty, and drives social stability,” he said.
He added that ensuring stable access to affordable food would strengthen the naira, reduce insecurity, and improve general well-being nationwide.
“A hungry man is an angry man. Food security will increase our security. It will tame all negative forces against this country,” he said, pledging the backing of the legislature for policies that would enable the success of the MATAN initiative.
Delivering the speech of the Chairman of the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, Hon. J.K. Kachikwu (PhD), Senior Consultant to the Committee, Mr. Chrislance Onyemechara, reaffirmed the House’s support for the initiative across all 774 local government areas in the country.
He noted that the MATAN system aligns with global best practices anchored on environment, partnership, advocacy, and innovation.
“If properly harnessed, these coordinated efforts can address nearly 90 percent of Nigeria’s food security challenges,” he said. “Ultimately, strong institutions and effective coordination will determine how well we tackle hunger and malnutrition.”
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Earlier, Ambassador Olakunle Johnson, Group National President of MATAN Food Bank Professionals Association of Nigeria, said the newly launched AMFSI is designed to provide direct food access to more than 40 million Nigerians.
He explained that the association had spent years developing the digital infrastructure for a nationwide food security network, built around a Virtual Digital Identity (VDI) system that will ensure accurate community-level data and eliminate bottlenecks associated with past food support programmes.
Johnson emphasised that the initiative is not a political promise but a fully tested, private-sector-driven system rooted in digitalisation and community participation.
“For decades, we have heard promises about food security, but nobody has built a structure around the people themselves. That is what we are doing,” he said.
He revealed that discussions had already been held with local and international investors who have expressed readiness to support the deployment, while governments at all levels would play supervisory and enabling roles.
“With a digital identity, you can wake up and see your community food bank or food kitchen in your neighbourhood. Nobody should fear hunger again,” he assured.
Johnson described the launch as the second phase of MATAN’s broader food security vision, coming after earlier advocacy and policy engagements.
Leaders of the association, including Chief Charles Igwenagu, South-East General Secretary, and Dr. Felix Osakwe, Group National Secretary, reiterated that the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s national food security agenda and urged all Nigerians to support the effort.
They expressed confidence that the AMFSI would provide a sustainable, community-driven model capable of transforming Nigeria’s food security landscape and strengthening resilience across the country.
