Action Against Hunger (ACF), in partnership with the German development agency, GIZ, has launched a programme aimed at strengthening social protection systems in Borno and Adamawa States to support vulnerable households affected by conflict, displacement and recurring shocks.
The initiative was unveiled on Tuesday in Abuja during a stakeholder lunch meeting on Improving Social Protection in Adamawa and Borno States through the Expansion of the Social Protection System.
Speaking at the event, the Deputy Country Director of Action Against Hunger Nigeria, Mr. Andualem Fekadu, said the programme reflects a shared commitment to protecting the dignity and resilience of vulnerable families in Northeast Nigeria.
The programme is funded by the European Union (EU) and the German Government under the SEPIN–SUSI framework.
Fekadu described social protection as a core priority, noting that well-designed systems help reduce vulnerability, build resilience and restore dignity to affected households.
He cited recent humanitarian data showing that 27.2 million Nigerians faced crisis or worse food and nutrition insecurity between October and December 2025.
According to him, 1.92 million people in Borno State were affected during the period, including more than 332,000 people in Emergency Phase 4, while 1.21 million people were affected in Adamawa State.
“Nearly 6.4 million children under five across Nigeria’s northeast, northwest and north-central zones are acutely malnourished, including about two million suffering from severe acute malnutrition,” he said.
Fekadu explained that the programme would extend proven social protection approaches to Borno and Adamawa States, ensuring that more households gain access to predictable and equitable support.
He added that the workshop also aimed to clarify roles, responsibilities, reporting expectations and compliance standards among implementing partners.
Representing the National Social Register, Mr. Mohammed Bala said the register was currently being updated and expanded.
“Out of the 19 million households captured in the previous register, over 10 million households have been visited, with about 10 million individuals verified through the National Institute for Medical Social Intervention,” he said, adding that household coordinates had been included to improve data credibility.
On behalf of GIZ, Mr. Aina Bolaji, Deputy Commission Manager for Supporting Sustainable Social Protection, Participation and Economic Resilience in Northeast Nigeria, said the project would improve the credibility, quality and institutional ownership of the social register.
“A functional and up-to-date social register is the foundation for shock-responsive social protection, effective targeting, policy coordination and efficient use of public and donor resources,” Bolaji said.
He added that the project would apply community-based targeting, geographical targeting and proxy means testing, while reinforcing the humanitarian-development-peace nexus.
Bolaji said success would be measured not only by the number of households registered but also by stronger state systems, enhanced community trust and effective use of the register for policy decisions and social protection responses.
Also speaking, Mrs. Aisha Shattima, Director of Social Welfare in Borno State, described the Social Register of Vulnerable Populations as a critical intervention that must be strengthened.
“Hunger remains a serious public health concern, especially in Borno State. This project must be fully implemented to ensure targeted support for vulnerable groups,” she said.
Similarly, the Executive Chairman of the Adamawa State Planning Commission, Dr. Mary Paninga, welcomed the programme, describing it as timely and significant.
Paninga commended development partners, particularly GIZ, for their consistent support of results-driven interventions, and affirmed Adamawa State’s readiness for full implementation.
She noted that the state’s commitment was reflected in the presence of senior officials, including three Permanent Secretaries and teams from key sectors.
The kick-off workshop brought together stakeholders from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, state social protection agencies, civil society organizations, and technical teams from ACF, GIZ, the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO), and State Operations Coordinating Units.
