Gombe State Faces Significant Food Security Challenges
The recently published 2024/2025 Gombe State General Household Survey and Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey reveals alarming food security issues affecting over ten local government areas within Gombe State. This critical finding was announced by the state’s Commissioner of Statistics, Alhaji Ibrahim Dure, during a three-day capacity-building workshop for local council staff held in Gombe city.
Collaboration with UNICEF to Combat Poverty
This workshop, organized by the Gombe State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), aims to tackle multidimensional poverty impacting children across the 11 local governments in the region. Mr. Dure, representing the Head of Economic and Social Statistics at the Gombe State Bureau of Statistics, Mr. Musa Umar, provided insights from the survey conducted with UNICEF’s support.
Access to Water and Sanitation in Gombe State
The survey highlighted that 65% of households in Gombe State have access to potable water, while 51.5% utilize improved sanitation facilities. Notably, access to these resources varies, with 64.9% of urban households benefiting compared to just 43% in rural areas. Furthermore, 50.5% of households have electricity, although the disparity is stark: 74.3% in urban regions versus 35.4% in rural locations.
Urgent Attention Needed for Food Security
Mr. Dure emphasized the severity of food security concerns in ten municipalities, stressing that this issue deserves urgent and critical attention. The findings paint a troubling picture of the socio-economic landscape in the state.
High Levels of Child Poverty in Gombe State
UNICEF’s Bauchi Field Director, Nuzato Rafike, expressed deep concern regarding the elevated rates of child poverty prevalent in Gombe State. The 2024/2025 Multi-Indicator Cluster Survey indicates that seven out of ten children are grappling with forms of multidimensional poverty, deprived of essential life necessities amidst widespread economic hardships.
Role of UNICEF in Addressing Child Poverty
Mr. Rafike underscored that addressing child poverty is paramount for the overall progress of Gombe State and Nigeria. He stated that UNICEF is actively supporting the expansion of social protection programs, improving healthcare access, and working to alleviate severe child food poverty. Further assistance will involve training, planning, and budgeting support at the local government level to combat this pressing issue.
Focus on the Most Deprived Communities
Rafike further elaborated on the dire situation, noting that local governments facing significant deprivation include Duc, Balanga, and Nafada. The objective is to reach the most vulnerable children, not just at a local authority level but also within communities where the need is most urgent. The workshop aims to empower approximately 66 officials from 11 local government areas to adopt a comprehensive approach to combat child poverty.
Call for Action from Gombe State Officials
The Gombe State Permanent Secretary of Finance, Jalo Ali, who oversees the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, urged participants to leverage the training to enhance their professional expertise. Represented by Musa Babaji, the Director of Administration and Finance within the Ministry, Mr. Ali pointed out the multidimensional nature of child poverty and the necessity for actionable, human-centered solutions to address these challenges effectively.
