By Aderogba George
Zaks Foundation for Humanity (ZFH), a non-governmental organisation has donated food items to vulnerable people in Karu district of Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme was the June edition of Nutritional Assistance Programme (NAP), given by the foundation to chosen communities in the North Central states.
NAN reports that the June edition was also to complement the Eid-el-Kabir celebration by Muslim faithful.
Speaking after the distribution of the items on Tuesday, Chairman of the foundation, Mr Aliyu Ahmed decried the worsening food insecurity and hunger in the country.
“Let us take time to reflect on the millions that are going through food insecurity and hunger around the country,”he said.
He called on Muslims to reflect on the purpose of the celebration which signifies a period of feast and sacrifice.
Ahmed said that in spite the level of hunger in the country, those saddled with the responsibility to mitigate it are unconcerned.
He said that ZFH had been at the forefront of the fight against hunger in Northern Nigeria, where 72 per cent of the extremely poor Nigerians live.
Ahmed said that as part of activities to mitigate hunger, ZFH had been implementing a programme called Resilience for Agricultural Innovation and Development (RAID).
He said that the programme is aimed at developing and improving agricultural value chain in grains, legumes and other sectors.
Ahmed said that with the commercialisation of genetically modified cowpea event 245F containing Cry 2AB gene, conferring resistance to Maruca Pod Borer, ZFH will commence its introduction to small holder farmers.
He said that this would increase their crop yields by 20 to 100 per cent and would help Nigeria to achieve food security and reduce malnutrition in the country.
The chairman said that many people depended on the programme as a rich source of protein, vitamins (thiamine) and minerals such as iron.
He said that this would translate to healthy life and increased productivity among the people, and as well strengthen the continuation of ZFH’s monthly NAP for the elderly, women and children.
Ahmed enjoined relevant government agencies, well-meaning Nigerians, groups and organisations to join hands with ZFH to address the hunger crisis in the country.
NAN reports that items distributed to each of the 70 beneficiaries includes 3kg Bag of rice, Beans, 75 cl vegetable oil, 2 packets of maggi cubes, 1 packet of salt and 10 sachets of tomato paste (NAN)