FG plans expansion of School feeding programme to 50 million pupils by 2026

By Isaac Joseph Inyang

The Federal Government has announced plans to scale up the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) to reach 50 million primary school pupils across the country by 2026.

The disclosure was made on Sunday in Abuja, where officials of the programme said the initiative is part of the government’s renewed commitment to tackling child hunger, boosting school enrollment, and improving learning outcomes.

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According to the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, the expansion will cover both existing beneficiaries and millions of new pupils, with a special focus on underserved communities.

The NHGSFP, launched in 2016, currently provides one nutritious meal each school day to public primary pupils. Government data suggests that the scheme has improved classroom attendance, supported local farmers by sourcing food locally, and created jobs for cooks and food vendors across several states.

Officials said the planned expansion would require collaboration between federal, state, and local governments, as well as private sector stakeholders, to ensure sustainability and transparency in implementation.

While stakeholders have commended the government’s ambition, some experts have raised concerns about funding, logistics, and monitoring in scaling up the programme to such a massive target.

The Federal Government, however, assured that the initiative remains a key pillar of its poverty reduction agenda, with 2026 set as the benchmark year to reach the 50 million pupils milestone.