The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has commenced the distribution of food aid to more than 145,000 vulnerable Nigerians under its 2026 Humanitarian Food Aid Project.
The intervention, launched through the Kingdom’s Embassy in Abuja, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) in partnership with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), will provide emergency food assistance to people affected by displacement, insecurity and other humanitarian crises across five states.
Under the project, 24,302 food baskets, each weighing about 60 kilograms, will be distributed to 145,812 beneficiaries in Yobe, Benue, Anambra, Kebbi and Taraba states.
The food baskets contain essential household staples, including rice, cooking oil, white beans, salt and other food items. The intervention is valued at more than $1.5 million.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Damaturu, the Director-General of NEMA reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to ensuring that the food items reach the intended beneficiaries transparently and efficiently.
“NEMA remains committed to ensuring the transparent and efficient distribution of these food items to identified beneficiaries in line with our mandate to coordinate disaster response and humanitarian assistance in Nigeria,” the Director-General said.
He said the agency would work closely with state governments and relevant stakeholders to ensure a smooth and accountable distribution process.
“We will continue to uphold the highest standards of accountability and transparency throughout the exercise to ensure that every food basket gets to those who need it most,” he added.
The NEMA boss noted that the intervention would provide timely relief to thousands of families struggling with the effects of displacement and food insecurity.
“This support comes at a critical time for many vulnerable households and will go a long way in easing their hardship and improving food security,” he said.
The project underscores Saudi Arabia’s continued commitment to supporting vulnerable populations in Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin through KSrelief, which has sustained humanitarian interventions in affected communities over the years.
“Saudi Arabia, through KSrelief, remains committed to standing with vulnerable communities by providing life-saving humanitarian assistance and supporting efforts to reduce the impact of crises,” he said.
The partnership between KSrelief and NEMA also reflects the growing importance of international cooperation in addressing humanitarian challenges and strengthening emergency response mechanisms.
“Strong partnerships are essential to tackling humanitarian challenges. This collaboration demonstrates what can be achieved when governments and humanitarian organisations work together for the benefit of vulnerable people,” the Director-General added.
The 2026 Food Aid Project is expected to provide immediate relief to thousands of households while complementing ongoing humanitarian efforts to improve food security and support communities affected by conflict and other emergencies across the intervention states.