Fighting Malnutrition: Federal Government Accelerates National Food and Nutrition Bill
The Federal Government has disclosed plans to fast track the passage of a comprehensive National Food and Nutrition Bill designed to safeguard long term funding and bolster institutional accountability against malnutrition. Vice President Kashim Shettima announced the legislative initiative while speaking at the high level Nigeria Ethiopia Nutrition Leadership Exchange Forum convened in Addis Ababa. Vice President Shettima explained that the proposed legal framework will provide solid legislative protection for federal funding while cementing the statutory implementation of the national Nutrition 774 Initiative. The law aims to enforce mandatory inter-governmental coordination across federal, state, and local government tiers to systematically eradicate severe child undernutrition across the country. Under the overarching National Policy on Food and Nutrition 2026–2035, the administration has set ambitious targets to reduce national child stunting rates significantly over the next decade. Strategic targets aim to lower stunting levels to 32 percent by 2029, 28 percent by 2032, and ultimately achieve a 25 percent baseline by 2035 through sustained clinical interventions. To build an operational foundation across the grassroots, the federal government has facilitated the creation of functional nutrition committees across 32 State Houses of Assembly. Furthermore, over 450 local government councils have instituted dedicated nutrition desks, establishing a nationwide legislative network capable of driving localized food interventions and monitoring expenditure. Financial commitment toward the campaign has seen notable success, as Nigeria’s initial $26 million contribution to the Child Nutrition Fund successfully unlocked an additional $52 million in matching external funds. Additionally, 21 state governments have mobilized a collective $6.3 million since 2023 to expand local treatment centers and provide therapeutic food packages. Highlighting the urgency of the intervention, Vice President Shettima revealed that nearly 40 percent of Nigerian children under five currently suffer from varying degrees of stunting. Beyond the human cost, chronic undernutrition drains the national economy, resulting in an estimated $56 billion in lost economic productivity annually due to reduced cognitive and physical capabilities. To supplement government spending, plans have been finalized to launch a Presidential Nutrition Investment Fund to provide catalytic seed financing for sustainable agricultural and clinical projects. Concurrently, a specialized Nutrition Financing Subcommittee is actively engaging domestic private sector stakeholders to unlock additional non-governmental capital for public nutrition initiatives. The government is also executing a Private Sector Engagement Framework to collaborate with food manufacturers, private financiers, and regulatory bodies to boost the production of affordable, fortified foods. This initiative enforces strict adherence to national food fortification standards, ensuring staple foods sold in public markets contain essential micronutrients necessary for healthy child development. The bilateral exchange concluded with Nigeria and Ethiopia agreeing to issue a joint declaration aimed at deepening regional cooperation on food security and agricultural technology. Vice President Shettima also met privately with Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh to strengthen economic ties, trade logistics, and security cooperation between both prominent African nations. By: Asiwaju Adekunle Saheed
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