The Federal Government plans to expand its school feeding program to reach 50 million pupils by 2026.
Officials said the initiative will boost nutrition, school attendance and local food production nationwide.
The Federal Government has unveiled plans to expand the National Home-Grown School Feeding Program to reach 50 million primary school students by 2026.
Aderemi Adebowale, the National Program Manager of the National Social Investment Program Agency (NSIPA), shared this information during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.
As per Adebowale, the program will not only cover the current early years (Primary 1–3) but will also include students from Primary 4–6, along with out-of-school children. She mentioned that the integration process is being carried out in phases.
“So, by the year 2026, we are looking at feeding close to 50 million pupils in primary school in Nigeria,” she said.
Adebowale noted that the program is designed to provide nutritious meals for ₦500–₦1,000 per child daily. She explained that the agency is working with smallholder farmers, aggregators, suppliers, and development partners to keep costs affordable.
“With this alignment, we’ll be able to control prices from the rock bottom. We will not be using market prices. We have to agree on prices from our suppliers, agri-vendors, and farmers to arrive at a reasonable cost per plate,” she said.
The framework also includes monitoring payment systems and service delivery to ensure accountability.
The expansion is based on the Alternate Education and Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Project, which was launched on May 27, 2025, by the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, who is currently the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
This program was initiated in collaboration with the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education, as well as the National Identity Management Commission.
At the launch, Yilwatda emphasized that school feeding was a central component of the Tinubu administration’s National Social Investment Program, introduced to mark the president’s second year in office.
Analysts say the ambitious plan could have far-reaching benefits for education, child nutrition, and agricultural productivity if implemented effectively.
By linking the program with local farmers and food suppliers, the government hopes to strengthen food security while boosting school attendance and reducing the number of out-of-school children.
Adebowale stressed that the ultimate goal is not only to feed pupils but also to empower local economies and foster sustainable development.
