The Nigerian government has earmarked N100 billion for the continuation of the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme in the 2025 Appropriation Bill.
This funding is aimed at providing nutritious meals to public primary school students nationwide, as part of the government’s broader efforts to improve both education and health outcomes for children, while simultaneously supporting local agriculture.
The NHGSFP, launched in 2005 under President Olusegun Obasanjo, was designed to enhance students’ health and academic performance by offering nutritious meals and creating a stable market for local farmers. The program has long sought to boost school attendance, improve academic outcomes, and provide an additional source of income for local farmers by sourcing food locally.
The N100 billion allocated for the NHGSFP is part of Nigeria’s total 2025 budget of N49.74 trillion, funded through the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation. The National Assembly has emphasized that these funds will be used to improve the management and development of the program.
Despite previous challenges, the government remains committed to its objectives of increasing school enrollment by 20% and improving academic performance by 15% by 2025. Additionally, there are plans to raise the income of local farmers by 10% through continued support for the initiative.
While the NHGSFP has been a priority for the government, its implementation has faced several hurdles. Under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, the program encountered issues related to poor-quality food, irregular supply, and non-payment to food vendors. Reports of corruption and inefficiency further tainted the program’s reputation.
In 2021, investigations revealed that N2.67 billion allocated for school feeding during the COVID-19 lockdown was misappropriated, with funds found in private accounts. Additionally, some states suspended the program due to logistical challenges and delays in funding from state governments.
A report from October 2022 further undermined the program’s credibility when the Nassarawa State government uncovered 349 “ghost schools”—nonexistent or non-participating schools listed as beneficiaries of the feeding program. These revelations raised serious concerns about mismanagement and the integrity of the program’s execution.
Despite these setbacks, the government is determined to ensure the success of the NHGSFP in the coming years. The 2025 budget allocation reflects a commitment to overcoming past inefficiencies and corruption by improving the delivery of meals and ensuring proper monitoring of the program. There is a clear focus on addressing the logistical issues that have hindered its impact in previous years.
The government also plans to strengthen the framework for data collection, registration, and auditing of schools participating in the program to prevent fraud and ensure that meals are reaching the children who need them most.
One of the primary goals of the NHGSFP is to stimulate local economic growth by sourcing food locally. This supports Nigerian farmers and provides a stable market for agricultural produce, helping to create sustainable economic development in rural areas. By increasing demand for locally grown food, the program aims to drive long-term growth in both the education and agricultural sectors.
However, the success of the program hinges on the government’s ability to overcome the challenges of corruption, inefficiency, and mismanagement that have plagued its implementation in the past. Only through robust enforcement, transparency, and accountability can the NHGSFP achieve its potential and deliver on its promises to Nigeria’s children and farmers alike.
The N100 billion allocation in the 2025 budget demonstrates Nigeria’s ongoing commitment to the NHGSFP, despite its past controversies. The program remains a key part of the country’s strategy to improve education, combat hunger, and support local farmers.
