Nigeria Seeks to Tackle Malnutrition and Food Insecurity with National Summit

Strategic Insights -

Nigeria, a nation with abundant arable lands and resilient farming communities, is grappling with a severe malnutrition crisis, particularly among children. The crisis has resulted in nearly 40% of Nigerian children under five being deprived of their full physical and cognitive potential. Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for collaboration between the Executive and Legislative arms of government to address this issue. He emphasized the need to take urgent, coordinated action to address Nigeria's alarming nutrition crisis. Shettima identified programmes such as the N774 Initiative and the National Legislative Network on Nutrition and Food Security as sustainable routes to introduce and implement policies and laws to promote food security and combat malnutrition.

Key Takeaways:

  • The N774 Initiative is a Federal Government programme aimed at revitalising and incentivising local action to improve food security, health, and nutrition in Nigeria.
  • The National Legislative Network on Nutrition and Food Security comprises the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, as well as chairpersons and clerks of the Committee on Nutrition and Food Security in the 36 State Houses of Assembly.
  • The Vice-President highlighted that the government at all levels must take the challenge of malnutrition seriously, with about 40% of Nigerian children under five being deprived of their full physical and cognitive potential.
  • The House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security is working with stakeholders in all 36 states to transition from policy pronouncements to on-the-ground impact.
  • The Committee is addressing the root causes of malnutrition and strengthening the systems needed for rapid and effective response.
  • The President has repositioned nutrition as a central pillar of Nigeria's national development strategy under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
  • Development partners, including UNICEF, Nutrition International, and the World Bank, are providing support to improve nutrition and overall health outcomes in Nigeria.
  • The Nigerian government needs to ensure that nutrition financing becomes a matter of justice rather than charity.

Statistics:

  • Post-harvest losses alone account for $2 billion each year, a significant loss that is not only unacceptable but unsustainable.
  • The annual economic cost of malnutrition is estimated at 12.2% of Nigeria's Gross National Income, approximately $56 billion.
  • The cost of inaction on malnutrition is aggregated to about 12.2% of the Country's Gross National Income, about $56 billion.
  • The Nutrition budget of the Ministries of Agriculture, Health, Education and Women Affairs is dwarfed by the losses caused by post-harvest loss.

Sources:

  • Vice President Kashim Shettima's address at the National Summit on Nutrition and Food Security
  • Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Tajudeen Abbas's address at the summit
  • Chairman of the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, Hon Chike Okafor's address at the summit
  • World Bank
  • UNICEF
  • Nutrition International
  • Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
  • Gates Foundation
  • Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN)
  • Hellen Keller International
  • FHI-360