The United States government has included Nigeria in a $93 million emergency food aid programme aimed at addressing worsening hunger and malnutrition in vulnerable nations.
Announcing the initiative at a press briefing, US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the funding will provide essential food commodities, targeted nutritional support, and emergency logistics.
According to the department, the emergency food aid programme will deliver ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) to nearly one million children suffering from severe malnutrition. The package includes 1,209 metric tons of existing stock and funds to produce an additional 11,285 metric tons.
Nigeria joins 12 other beneficiaries, including Haiti, Mali, Niger, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Madagascar, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Kenya, and Chad.
The announcement comes amid the Trump administration’s cost-cutting reforms, which last month led to the closure of the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The move has sparked criticism from former US leaders and global health experts concerned about its impact on humanitarian outreach.
