Gov. Bassey Otu of Cross River says his administration has provided a matching fund of ₦100 million to scale up food and nutrition interventions in the state.
Otu divulged this information at the launch of the Cross River Strategic Action Plan on Food and Nutrition on Friday in Calabar. Represented by his Deputy, Peter Odey, Otu said that his administration would work diligently with all stakeholders to achieve the action plan.
He said the strategic action plan would involve viable agricultural investments to achieve food and nutrition security. The governor said the move would expand food production, availability, accessibility, and affordability in the state.
He said that for the plan to be carried out, steps would be taken to improve food harvesting, processing, and preservation to reduce post-harvest losses.
This plan will also strive to reduce malnutrition among school-age children and improve their learning, health, and nutrition status.
“I am the chairman of the planning commission, we shall vigorously drive this process of coordination, we are determined,” he noted.
Otu commended UNICEF and other partners for their contributions towards the realization of the action plan.
In his speech, Bong Duke, Vice-chairman of the planning commission, said that the essence of the plan was to ensure a healthier citizenry. Duke said that the government was using a multi-sectoral approach to fight malnutrition in the state.
On her part, Dr Olusoji Akinleye, Officer-in-charge, UNICEF Nigeria, Enugu Field Office, congratulated the government for launching the nutrition policy. She gave an assurance that UNICEF would continue to collaborate with the state government to improve the lives of children and women in the state.
This event drew dignitaries from UN agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations.
