The MATAN Food Bank Professionals Association of Nigeria (MATAN) has launched the Automated MATAN Food Security Initiative to tackle hunger and strengthen food security across the country.
The national flag-off ceremony, held on Wednesday at the National Institute of Sport, National Stadium Lagos, brought together agricultural and community stakeholders and farmers from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The event unveiled the framework for transforming food access and distribution nationwide.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Olakunle Johnson, MATAN Group National President and Board of Trustees Chairman, described the initiative as a “spiritual project” aimed at strengthening food systems from the grassroots. He said the programme would provide sustainable solutions to hunger by equipping communities with modern tools for food production, tracking, and distribution.
Johnson emphasized that local problems must be addressed locally. “Most problems in this country will solve themselves once food is available,” he said. He also linked food security to national stability, noting that insurgency and banditry thrive where hunger and deprivation are rampant.
“The programme will use a multipurpose digital identity card system to enhance transparency and ensure efficient food distribution nationwide,” Johnson added. He urged federal, state, and local governments to support the full implementation of the project, stressing that lasting peace is impossible without guaranteed food access for citizens.
The initiative incorporates digital identity, community enumeration, and automated distribution to eliminate food queues. Households will receive digital food security cards linked to BVN and NIN, ensuring targeted and efficient delivery. Johnson encouraged nationwide productivity, calling on every community to return to farming as a solution to hunger and insecurity.
He revealed that MATAN plans to enumerate over 200 million Nigerians, with the system identifying children, vulnerable groups, workers, and households for targeted food access.
Alhaji Abba Imam, Vice President of MATAN’s North West Zone, said the initiative operates on a bottom-to-top model to ensure active community participation. Dr. Goni Umar, MATAN Board of Trustees member and Director at Greenwich Merchant Bank Nigeria, explained that the IMF’s warning of looming food scarcity prompted the launch of the initiative. He added that youths would be mobilized, provided with farmlands, and their produce purchased for subsidized community distribution.
Sen. Joshua Lidani, former Deputy Governor of Gombe State, described the initiative as “unprecedented” and called for collaboration across Nigeria’s food chain. He predicted that the project would significantly improve food security and the agricultural economy within two years.
Dr. Olajide Bashorun, CEO of Miss Farms Ltd. and Chairman of the Food Security and Sustainability Committee of MATAN Food Bank Foundation, stressed the importance of collective action. “By bringing farmers together, we can provide the necessary resources and support to increase productivity, improve income, and ensure a consistent supply of food for our communities,” he said.
Bashorun also highlighted the social impact of the initiative, noting that hunger drives societal challenges, from poor health to antisocial behavior. “By conquering hunger, we calm communities, improve productivity, and foster social harmony. Food is the key to unlocking human potential.”
He added that MATAN would register farmers through its portal, provide critical inputs at competitive prices, and purchase produce at agreed farm-gate prices.
