MATAN to pilot national food security scheme in Lagos, Kano, Rivers

The MATAN Food Bank Foundation says it will pilot its national food security scheme in Lagos, Kano and Rivers to address hunger and improve access to nutritious food.

Dr Olakunle Johnson, Visioneer and Group National President of the foundation, made the disclosure in a press statement made available to the news reporters on Thursday.

He spoke at the flag-off of the MATAN Food Bank Professional Association of Nigeria Multi-Stakeholders Joint Alliance and inauguration of the Rivers State Executive Council in Port Harcourt.

Johnson, who is also the founder of the 21 Pillars of ATDGSS + Joint Stakeholders Alliance, said Rivers was selected because of the commitment and readiness of the MATAN family in the state.

He urged Nigerians to contribute to societal development without waiting to occupy public office, saying the food revolution required collective action.

“Let the food revolution start now; it is not time for protest, take action.

“You don’t need to wait until you become a local government chairman, a state governor or even president before you contribute your quota to society,” he said.

Johnson said the organisation had licences to operate across the food value chain, including warehousing, distribution and food education.

He said MATAN had also proposed to the National Assembly the establishment of private institutions to provide breakfast and lunch in schools to encourage attendance and tackle social vices.

According to him, the proposed Public Private Partnership Food Security Service will help address illiteracy, banditry and other forms of criminality by ensuring that children have access to food and education.

Mr Abba Imam, National Coordinator, MATAN Community Compound Food and Nutrition Revolution Initiatives, said the programme was anchored on the objective of ensuring that no Nigerian went to bed hungry.

Imam said the initiative would mop up agricultural produce from farms and channel them to food production hubs for distribution through off-takers.

He said the programme would gradually expand from the pilot states to the 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory and the 774 local government areas.

Dr Wealth Martins, National Coordinator, Community Street Food and Nutrition Feeding Foundation, said the initiative would distribute food through central and community kitchens.

Martins said more than 100 agents would be recruited in each local government area to support beneficiary enumeration and food distribution in collaboration with traditional rulers.

He said beneficiaries would be categorised and issued Gold, Silver and Bronze cards, with vulnerable persons eligible for three free meals daily at community kitchens under the Bronze Card arrangement.

Mr Stephen Paul, Deputy Commander General, Manpower and Statistics, Nigeria Forest Security Service, said the welfare of workers across the food value chain remained critical to the success of the programme.

Paul is also the National Coordinator, National Agricultural Workers Health and Protection Initiative.

He said the credibility of the initiative would ultimately be determined by its impact on farmers, agricultural workers, food transporters, warehouse workers and communities whose livelihoods depend on agriculture.