The Borno State House of Assembly has pledged to introduce strict legislation to criminalise the diversion and illegal resale of food supplies intended for malnourished children. This commitment comes in response to growing concerns raised by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) about the misuse of critical nutrition aid in the state.
The assurance was given on Friday during a visit by UNICEF to the House Committee on Health, where discussions were held on potential collaboration for the Federal Government’s N-774 project, which aims to combat malnutrition across the country.
Chairman of the Committee on Health, Maina Mustapha, expressed deep concern over the recurring issue of donor-supplied nutrition products being resold or diverted for personal gain rather than used for their intended purpose saving the lives of malnourished children.
“We will criminalise the sale, theft, or misuse of nutrition products donated by development partners,” Mustapha declared. “We often complain about poverty, yet we sell the very aid meant to save our children. This is unacceptable, and we must put an end to it.”
He reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to working closely with UNICEF to ensure full implementation of the N-774 initiative, particularly at the grassroots level, and said the agency would be involved in all planning and strategic phases of the project in Borno State.
UNICEF’s Chief of the Maiduguri Field Office, Joseph Senesie, welcomed the collaboration and applauded the Assembly’s resolve to criminalise the diversion of life-saving nutritional supplies. He said the move signified a critical step in the right direction and could significantly enhance access to proper nutrition for children in underserved communities.
Senesie added that with strong political will and collaborative efforts under the N-774 initiative, children across Borno and beyond could begin to benefit from sustained access to quality healthcare and nutrition support.
