The Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), in partnership with the British Red Cross, has flagged off the second phase of its Food Security and Livelihood Support programme in Agboyi Community, within the Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Kosofe Local Government Area, Lagos State.
The intervention, which commenced with the training of 40 volunteers, is designed to support 270 vulnerable households through direct business funding and capacity-building activities aimed at boosting their resilience against the growing impact of flooding and economic hardship.
The initiative builds upon the success of the first phase implemented in December 2024, during which 180 households each received a grant of ₦310,000.
The financial support was deployed to strengthen small businesses, promote economic self-reliance, and assist families grappling with the devastating effects of recurrent floods.
According to the Lagos State Disaster Management Officer of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Mr Ige Oladimeji, the second phase is not only an expansion in scale but a deepening of the organisation’s commitment to long-term disaster response and economic recovery for flood-prone communities.
“The success of the first phase demonstrated that with the right support, families in vulnerable communities can rebuild and become self-sufficient. This second phase is designed to reach more families and help them build sustainable livelihoods that can withstand future shocks,” he said.
The project officially began on Wednesday with a comprehensive training session for 40 Red Cross volunteers. The trained personnel have since been deployed to Agboyi 1, 2, and 3 communities to commence beneficiary registration.
A key component of the intervention is the mandatory two-day financial literacy training that all registered beneficiaries will undergo.
The training will focus on essential money management and small business development skills, designed to equip participants with the tools to responsibly manage and grow their income-generating activities.
Following the training, each beneficiary will be issued a pre-loaded ATM card through which the financial assistance will be disbursed. This method, the Red Cross noted, ensures transparency and reduces the risk of fund mismanagement.
The Food Security and Livelihood Support programme forms part of a broader disaster management response that the Nigerian Red Cross has been implementing in Agboyi over the last five years. The area, known for its vulnerability to flooding, has been a focal point of humanitarian interventions geared towards building community resilience.
The NRCS emphasized that this intervention is rooted in the principles of sustainability, equity, and empowerment. “We are not only giving handouts. We are giving people the tools to take charge of their future,” a project coordinator explained.
The programme is funded by the British Red Cross as part of its commitment to disaster risk reduction and capacity building in disaster-prone communities across Nigeria.
The Nigerian Red Cross Society is a voluntary humanitarian organization providing emergency assistance, disaster relief, and education throughout Nigeria. It is committed to alleviating human suffering, protecting life and health, and upholding human dignity, especially during emergencies and disasters.