The Federal Government of Nigeria has formally requested a $1 million grant from the African Development Bank (AfDB) to provide essential food supplies to Nigerians severely impacted by the devastating 2024 floods. The grant proposal, obtained by FRONTPAGE, outlines plans to address food insecurity and displacement caused by floods that ravaged 29 states, displacing over 200,000 people and destroying more than 500,000 hectares of farmland.

The intervention aims to assist 122,253 individuals in 16 of the most affected districts with food packages, including 25kg of rice and 10kg of beans, between October 2024 and February 2025. This effort will complement the government’s current relief distribution of rice and spaghetti to affected households.

The grant proposal states:
“The project seeks to complement government and development partners’ efforts to save lives and protect livelihoods during the ongoing crisis caused by flooding. This will be achieved through the provision of emergency food transfers. The funding from the bank’s Special Relief Fund will enable emergency support to reach an estimated 24,450 households in the hardest-hit regions.”

Key Details of the Intervention:

• Food Distribution: Each household will receive 35kg of food, ensuring a diversified diet during the critical recovery period.
• Target Period: Assistance will be delivered over four months to stabilize food and nutritional security while safeguarding livelihoods.
• Implementing Partner: The World Food Programme (WFP) will oversee procurement and equitable distribution, leveraging its experience in large-scale humanitarian interventions.

Disaster Scale and Aftermath

The floods, partially triggered by the collapse of the Alau Dam in Borno State, wreaked havoc across northern Nigeria. In Maiduguri, more than half of the city was submerged, rendering key facilities like the Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and 25 schools inoperable. Outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as diarrhea and malaria further compounded the crisis.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) described the disaster as beyond the government’s capacity, prompting an urgent appeal for international support. Market assessments by the Food and Agriculture Organisation revealed soaring food prices, making cash-based assistance impractical and reinforcing the need for direct food transfers.

Strategic Response

President Bola Tinubu had earlier called for global assistance, highlighting the strain on local resources. The AfDB’s grant will provide a lifeline to affected communities by funding food procurement, logistics, and operational costs. The WFP will ensure the food reaches the most vulnerable while conducting post-distribution monitoring to assess the program’s impact.

This effort aligns with broader United Nations-coordinated initiatives to mitigate the disaster’s effects on Nigeria’s socio-economic conditions and prevent long-term deterioration of food security for displaced families.