The World Food Programme (WFP) of the United Nations says it spent five million dollars (approximately N7.4 billion) on Shock-Responsive and Social Protection (SRSP) in Nigeria in 2025.
The Acting Country Director of WFP, Serigne Loum, disclosed this at the inauguration of the Shock-Responsive Social Protection (SRSP) Technical Working Group (TWG) and the validation workshop for the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in Abuja on Thursday.
The programme, organized by WFP in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, had as its theme: “Leveraging Social Safety Nets for Emergency and Disaster Response.”
He assured that WFP would scale up its financial commitment and interventions in 2026 to reach more beneficiaries.
Loum, who noted that no fewer than 35 million people in Nigeria are food insecure, said most of them are in the North-East.
“Last year, WFP provided anticipatory action support to 70,000 people in Adamawa who were affected by floods.
“The assistance was very timely and allowed them to take preventive measures before the floods hit.
“This year, we aim to increase that number, possibly reaching 80,000 people with anticipatory support, as well as more people through social protection,” he said.
Loum added that WFP is committed to achieving zero hunger through its operations and by providing technical support to strengthen government systems in social protection, anticipatory action, emergency response, and policy coordination.
“Nigeria has one of the largest social registers of poor and vulnerable households in the region.
“Unfortunately, the country has also experienced multiple crises and shocks over the past decade, which have overstretched both national disaster agencies and humanitarian partners.
“Therefore, if the SOP is effectively operationalized, Nigeria will set a standard and become a reference point for peer learning in Africa and beyond,” he said.
Mr Olubunmi Olusanya, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, said Nigeria continues to face economic and conflict-related challenges, in addition to floods and droughts that disrupt livelihoods.
He noted that these shocks threaten life-sustaining activities, thereby hampering growth and development.
According to him, shock-responsive social protection has become not only relevant but essential for anticipating, preparing for, and responding to crises.
“The validation of the SRSP marks a significant step forward. This system promotes coherence among intervention mechanisms, including governance and institutional frameworks, to better serve vulnerable populations.
“It provides a practical tool to strengthen coordination, clarify roles without encroaching on institutional mandates, and promote efficiency, transparency, and adaptability in response,” he said.
