National Summit on Nutrition and Food Security to Address Alarming Malnutrition Rates in Nigeria

Strategic Insights -

The National Summit on Nutrition and Food Security, convened by the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, is set to take place in Abuja. The summit aims to address the country's alarming rates of malnutrition and food insecurity, with the theme "Curbing Malnutrition and Food Insecurity Through Effective Synergies." Despite decades of national policies and sectoral programs, Nigeria continues to grapple with malnutrition and food insecurity, affecting vulnerable populations, such as children under 5, pregnant and nursing mothers, and those in rural areas. The summit will bring together stakeholders from the Executive and Legislative branches, development partners, and the private sector to address the root causes of the crisis, including climate change, insecurity, high inflation, and inadequate infrastructure.

Key Takeaways:

  • The National Summit on Nutrition and Food Security aims to harmonize legislative, policy, and programmatic responses to nutrition and food security challenges across all tiers of government.
  • The summit will examine innovative and sustainable financing mechanisms for nutrition, including public-private partnerships, and formulate strategies for building resilient and inclusive food systems.
  • The key objectives of the summit include strengthening parliamentary oversight and accountability frameworks, aligning development partner interventions with national legislative priorities, and enhancing synergy between development partners and legislative stakeholders.
  • The summit will feature a broad representation of stakeholders, including relevant actors from the Executive and Legislative branches, development partners, and the private sector.
  • The summit aims to strengthen legislative frameworks for nutrition and food security at federal and state levels, including improved budgetary appropriations and tracking of nutrition funding.
  • The summit will also focus on clear recommendations for policy reform, inter-agency coordination, and effective domestication and implementation of nutrition policies by State Houses of Assembly.

Statistics:

  • Over 50% of Nigeria's population is estimated to be living in poverty, exacerbating the malnutrition crisis, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
  • The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that malnutrition is a major public health problem in Nigeria, affecting over 30% of children under 5 years of age. (WHO)
  • Nigeria is one of the countries with the highest rates of stunting and wasting in children under 5, with over 40% suffering from stunting and 25% from wasting, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Sources:

  • Voice of Nigeria, July 3, 2025
  • "Report on the State of Nutrition and Food Security in Nigeria," United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
  • World Health Organization (WHO) Website (no specific date or publication date mentioned)
  • House of Representatives Website (no specific date or publication date mentioned)