By Sekyen Walshak
In difficult economic times, a bag of rice can mean far more than its weight. For many struggling households in Plateau State, the recent food and nutrition intervention by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs represents more than a welfare programme — it offers a brief moment of relief in a season when feeding a family has become an everyday struggle.
Across Nigeria, the federal government has rolled out several social intervention initiatives aimed at cushioning the hardship faced by vulnerable citizens.
Through programmes anchored on the National Social Register — which contains about 19.8 million households, representing over 90 million Nigerians identified as eligible for social interventions — the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs continues its efforts to support the poorest and most vulnerable across the country.
In Plateau State, however, the recent distribution of food items has drawn particular attention. Many residents say it is the first time the state is visibly benefiting from the ministry’s food and nutrition assistance, despite the fact that two of its indigenes have recently held leadership positions at the ministry.
Professor Nentawe Yilwatda served as minister between October 2024 and July 2025, while the current minister, Dr. Bernard Doro, assumed office in November 2025.
While the intervention has been welcomed in many quarters, it has also generated mixed reactions among residents, ranging from appreciation to concerns about timing and fairness.
During the distribution exercise, Dr. Doro, accompanied by APC National Chairman Prof. Yilwatda, presented food items to more than 2,000 selected beneficiaries across the state. The items included 25-kilogram bags of rice, beans, and maize; four litres of palm oil; ten litres of groundnut oil; as well as seasoning cubes and salt.
For some beneficiaries, the assistance could not have come at a better time.Mrs. Godiya Ibrahim, a mother of four, said the rising cost of food has forced her family to make painful adjustments.
What used to be three meals a day, she explained, has gradually reduced to two.“The prices of food in the market have gone very high,” she said quietly. “Sometimes we manage only two meals a day. With these items, at least my family can eat well again for some time. It may not be much, but it will serve the purpose.”
Her words reflect a reality many households in the state now face — survival measured meal by meal.Not everyone, however, is entirely satisfied with how the programme was implemented.
Mrs. Nankyer Ayodele questioned the selection process used to identify beneficiaries. According to her, some of those who received the items did not appear to belong to the vulnerable category the programme was designed to support.
“Most of the people here are not the kind of people this programme was meant for,” she said. “Some are workers earning salaries, some are average people who are doing well. If this is for the poorest, then the selection process needs to be looked at.”
Her concern echoes a wider sentiment among observers who believe that while the intervention is commendable, greater transparency and fairness in the distribution process would ensure that the support reaches those who need it most.
For now, many beneficiaries say they are grateful for the assistance, even as they hope it will not be a one-time gesture.
Much like Oliver Twist asking for more, several residents say the programme should be expanded to reach more struggling families.To some households, the items distributed may appear modest.
But in kitchens where empty pots have become all too familiar, even a few bags of grain can mean weeks without hunger.Beyond the food itself, residents say the real expectation is that humanitarian interventions will reach Plateau State consistently, fairly, and with the needs of the most vulnerable firmly in mind.