The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has donated 2,254 cartons of life-saving ready-to-use therapeutic nutrition to the Borno state government to fight malnutrition among children and pregnant women as a result of 16 years of insurgency crisis.

Our correspondent had earlier reported how UNICEF raised alarms about some individuals reselling and diverting the RUTF commodity in Yobe and Yobe states, respectively.

Speaking shortly after the handover, the Acting UNICEF Chief of the Maiduguri Field Office, Joseph Senesie, mentioned that the foods were procured through the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) for the treatment of children suffering from severe acute malnutrition.

He, however, stated that “with this support, thousands of children affected by the most threatening form of malnutrition now have a renewed chance to survive and strive.”

Senesie urged the state government to sustain the momentum by contributing to the 2025 CNF appeal in order to protect the most vulnerable children across the state.

“The issue is getting out of hand, where traders, transporters, and some workers have been found involved in or caught for misusing or diverting supplies, which is a major issue to UNICEF,” Senesie had said.

Also, the Borno state government warned parents against reselling.

Ready-to-use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) donated by the United Nations Children’s Fund.

The state commissioner of health, Baba Mallam Gana, gave the warning while appreciating UNICEF for the items. The commissioner revealed that over two million children in the Northeastare facing malnutrition.

He called on parents to ensure that the children whom the products are meant for enjoy the supply for the benefit of their health and growth.

He said, “The issue of malnutrition is a big problem, not just in Borno State, but in Northeast Nigeria. For example, in the Northeast, we have over two million children who are suffering from malnutrition, out of which half a million are facing acute malnutrition.

“We ask you (parents) in the name of God not to sell them. It is for the benefit of your children, giving to them freely.” he said

The state Commissioner for Health and Humanities Service, Baba Malam Gana,

We have seen women making their children loseweight in order to be able to qualify for RUTF, and we have heard or seen pregnant women selling urine to other women to be able to.