This is contained in a statement from Mr John Nwankwo, Senior Assistant/Advisor on General Affairs, Information and Culture of the Embassy of Japan in Abuja on Friday.

It quoted the Japanese Ambassador to Nigeria, Sadanobu Kusaoke, as saying that “the gesture will to a large extent assist in reducing the risk of food shortage and malnutrition in the affected communities.”

The statement explained that the funding would be used to provide direct food assistance to selected 3,000 families of approximately 36,000 people over a period of six months.

It would also provide vegetable seeds and fertiliser for production and sale of vegetables to generate income that will enable the families purchase food in markets, as well as revive their livelihood.

It added that the benefiting households have been identified as some of the most vulnerable and extremely food insecure households in seven local government areas in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.

The statement listed the local governments to include Michika, Mubi North, and Yola North in Adamawa; Jere and Maiduguri in Borno and; Damaturu, Geidam, Nangere and Yunusari in Yobe.

The statement indicated that the project would be implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organisation, International Fund for Agricultural Development and OXFAM.