Betta Edu Hails Oluremi Tinubu Over South-South Food Bank In C’River

Former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, has commended First Lady Oluremi Tinubu for supporting the establishment of a food bank in Cross River State to serve vulnerable residents across the South-South region.

Edu described the initiative as an important intervention that would strengthen efforts to address food insecurity and provide relief to families experiencing economic hardship.

The food bank is expected to support vulnerable households and communities by providing food assistance and other forms of humanitarian relief to people affected by rising living costs.

Edu said the initiative demonstrated the First Lady’s commitment to improving the welfare of Nigerians, particularly people facing difficulties meeting basic household needs.

The former minister also highlighted the importance of establishing interventions that can reach people at the community level, where the effects of economic hardship are often most visible.

The South-South food bank in Cross River is expected to serve as a regional support centre, providing assistance to vulnerable people beyond the immediate host community.

Edu said initiatives of this nature could complement government programmes designed to reduce poverty, improve food security and strengthen social protection.

She praised Oluremi Tinubu for supporting humanitarian interventions and encouraged other stakeholders to contribute to programmes targeted at vulnerable Nigerians.

The initiative comes amid continuing concerns about food prices and the ability of low-income households to meet their daily nutritional needs.

Food banks and similar social-support programmes provide emergency assistance to households while government and development agencies pursue broader measures aimed at improving agricultural production, reducing food inflation and expanding economic opportunities.

Edu said collaboration among government institutions, private organisations, community leaders and humanitarian groups would be essential to ensuring that food assistance reaches the people who need it most.

She also emphasised the need for transparency and effective distribution systems to ensure that beneficiaries receive the intended support.

The former minister maintained that humanitarian interventions should be designed around the needs of vulnerable groups, including poor households, women, children and other people facing economic difficulties.

The establishment of the South-South food bank is expected to strengthen the region’s capacity to respond to food-related emergencies and provide support during periods of heightened economic pressure.

Edu said the initiative would contribute to efforts to reduce hunger and improve the welfare of vulnerable communities in Cross River and neighbouring South-South states.

She urged beneficiaries and community stakeholders to support the programme and ensure that the assistance is distributed fairly.

The former minister’s commendation adds to growing recognition of food-support initiatives as part of broader efforts to tackle poverty and hunger.

She described the intervention as a positive step toward strengthening social protection and ensuring that vulnerable Nigerians are not left without assistance during difficult economic periods.