President Bola Tinubu has approved a new initiative to allocate 20% of relief packages, including food aid, through religious and traditional institutions across Nigeria. Vice President Kashim Shettima announced this during a high-level dialogue on nutrition at the State House in Abuja, emphasizing the need for faith and traditional leaders to lead the charge in improving nutrition nationwide.
The dialogue, themed "Faith leaders as catalysts for enhanced human capital through nutrition," was jointly organized by the National Council on Nutrition and the World Bank's Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria [ANRiN] Project.
Shettima assured that President Tinubu is committed to supporting the Nigerian populace and recognizes the government's role in providing essential services and security. He addressed concerns raised by the Imam of Bayero University, Kano, regarding the exclusion of traditional and religious leaders from the relief distribution.
The Vice President announced that 20% of the funds for the School Feeding Programme will be directed through the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning to religious bodies. He acknowledged the logistical challenges of reaching thousands of Tsangaya and mission schools but expressed optimism about the initiative's success.
