The Federal Government of Nigeria and the World Food Programme (WFP) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation on food security, humanitarian response, and sustainable development following a high-level meeting in Abuja.
The Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, received the WFP Country Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Katrien Ghoos, who presented her Letter of Commission. The meeting reviewed the longstanding partnership between Nigeria and the UN agency, with discussions focusing on food security, humanitarian assistance, nutrition, resilience-building, and sustainable development.
The minister praised the WFP for its continued support in providing life-saving assistance to vulnerable populations affected by humanitarian crises, noting that the organisation has played a critical role in complementing the Federal Government’s efforts to improve food security and strengthen community resilience. She reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to working closely with the WFP and other international partners to tackle the root causes of food insecurity through coordinated humanitarian and development interventions.
Ambassador Bianca also stressed the need to integrate humanitarian assistance with long-term development strategies that enhance agricultural productivity, improve rural livelihoods, promote economic inclusion, and build resilience against climate-related and other emerging challenges.
In her remarks, WFP Country Representative Ms. Katrien Ghoos reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s food security and sustainable development goals. She commended the Federal Government for its continued collaboration and expressed WFP’s readiness to deepen cooperation with relevant ministries, departments, and agencies to deliver impactful programmes across the country.
Both sides agreed to strengthen institutional collaboration, improve coordination in humanitarian response, mobilise greater international support for food security initiatives, and explore innovative approaches to improving nutrition and resilience. The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to advancing Nigeria’s development agenda and accelerating progress toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly ending hunger and ensuring food security for all Nigerians.
