Saudi Arabia Donates 68 Metric Tonnes of Dates to Support Vulnerable Nigerians

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has donated 68 metric tonnes of dates to vulnerable populations in Nigeria through the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).

At the handover ceremony in Abuja on Monday, WFP Country Director, Mr. David Stevenson, praised Saudi Arabia for the gesture, noting that the inclusion of dates in food assistance improved both quality and cultural relevance.

“These dates will directly benefit vulnerable communities in the Northeast, where food insecurity remains a pressing challenge,” Stevenson said.

He explained that the donation would reach not less than 34,000 households — approximately 170,000 people — with each household receiving two kilograms of dates. Distribution is planned across Internally Displaced Person (IDP) camps in Borno State, including Damasak, Mafa, Dikwa and Damboa, between October and December.

The WFP, he added, will conduct beneficiary sensitisation and state-level engagement to ensure proper use of the food items. “This year, we will have reached close to 1.5 million of the most vulnerable populations in Northern Nigeria, helping them address their most urgent food and nutrition needs,” he said, while calling on more partners to scale up support.

Chargé d’Affaires of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Nigeria, Mr. Saad Fahad Almarri, said the donation was made through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre as part of Saudi Arabia’s global relief efforts.

“Today’s handover represents our shared commitment to provide necessary assistance, relief and food security all over the world, especially in the North East of Nigeria,” Almarri said.

He noted that the King Salman Centre has implemented 3,690 projects in 108 countries worth about $8.1 billion, covering food security, health, emergency relief, education, early recovery, and other humanitarian interventions.

Almarri added that Saudi Arabia remains committed to assisting Nigeria through food baskets, IDP support, specialised healthcare programmes, and other initiatives under its Vision 2030 agenda.

Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, represented by Hajiya Jummai Katagun, commended the donation, describing it as “a symbol of compassion, partnership and shared humanity.”

“For many vulnerable households grappling with conflict, displacement, poverty and food insecurity, this intervention will provide much-needed relief and comfort,” Sununu said.

He also reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to strengthening partnerships and ensuring such interventions are well integrated into national strategies for resilience and stability.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that dates, beyond being a culturally valued food, offer health benefits such as reducing inflammation and improving cholesterol levels.

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