Plateau Govt, SON To Promote Food Fortification

The Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has collaborated with the Plateau State government to promote food fortification in line with the National Policy on Food and Nutrition.

This was made known by the director-general and chief executive of SON, Dr Ifeanyi Okeke, during an engagement visit to the state commissioner of Health, Dr Nicolas Baamlong, and his counterpart in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Salihu Nyalun, in Jos, the state capital.

The DG, who was represented by the director, North Central Region and regional expert in Standardisation and Related Activities, Dr Marline Waziri, said addressing malnutrition required that all hands be on deck, adding that the engagement was a step in the right direction.

The DG insisted that food fortification may sound technical. Still, at its core, it is a simple, practical solution that adds essential vitamins and minerals to everyday foods to prevent deficiencies that continue to affect many Nigerians.

He explained that conditions linked to low levels of Vitamin A, iron, and iodine are still common, especially among children and women, stressing that these are not just health issues; they also affect learning, productivity, and overall quality of life.

“This is where SON comes in. As the National body responsible for standards, we work to ensure that fortified foods meet the required quality and nutrient levels.

“Standards are already in place for widely consumed products such as flour, sugar, salt, and edible oil. But standards alone are not enough; consistent compliance is what makes the real difference.

Dr Okeke further said that, to support this, SON is also introducing a Digital Fortification Quality Traceability system, adding that this will help improve monitoring, make compliance easier to track, and increase overall transparency.

“Of course, we cannot do this alone. The Ministry of Health plays a central role. Your Leadership is essential in tracking nutrition outcomes, integrating fortification into health programs, raising public awareness, and ensuring that interventions are making the desired impact.

“In the future, we see several areas where we can work more closely together. These include strengthening joint monitoring of fortified foods, aligning fortification with ongoing state nutrition programs, improving data sharing, and collaborating on public awareness efforts to help people better understand the benefits of fortified foods.

The DG further stated that, “If we get this right, the impact will be clear, there will be better compliance from producers, fewer cases of micronutrient deficiencies, and ultimately, healthier communities across Plateau State and Nigeria as a whole.

He maintained that SON remains fully committed to this partnership, noting that they believe they can make real and lasting progress in improving nutrition and public health by working together.

In their separate responses, Dr Nicolas Baamlong and Salihu Nyalun commended SON for choosing Plateau for the engagement, adding that records show the state has a high number of malnourished and stunted children, and that their doors are open to further collaboration to ensure a healthy society.