Malnutrition Crisis: Nigeria Ranks First In Africa, Second Globally, Says SON

The Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has revealed that Nigeria is facing a critical malnutrition crisis.

It calimed that the country ranks first in Africa and 2nd globally on child malnutrition, necessitating urgent and sustained interventions.

SON’s assistant director, North Central Region, Dr Danladi Datok, made the assertion at a two-day workshop for manufacturers on food fortification requirements, with the theme “Improving food fortification compliance with standards at the food factory level” in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

In a paper titled “Good Premix Handling Practices Effective Fortification A Guide,” Dr Danladi Datok, assistant director of the North Central Region of SON, said that, with annual losses exceeding $1.5 billion, malnutrition stands as a national emergency, undermining human capital and the country’s development.

He insisted that the use of premix to enhance the nutritional quality of widely consumed foods and reduce micronutrient deficiencies at the population level constitutes a key intervention throughout food fortification.

According to him, this can be achieved by good premix handling practices (GPHP) , a critical control measure for effective food fortification, ensuring that micronutrients added to foods remain stable, safe, and uniformly distributed from factory to consumer.

In her presentation on “Improving Food Fortification Compliance With Standards at Food Factory, Mrs Ladi Ayam from SON headquarters said the impact of malnutrition includes high child mortality rates, poor cognitive development, increased risk of diseases and economic burden.

She insisted that the only solution is to embark on large-scale fortifications (LSFF), breastfeeding promotion, nutrition education and health care strengthening, among others.

The state coordinator of SON, Engr. Kenneth Shawo, said food fortification is a critical public health intervention that remains one of the most cost-effective and sustainable strategies for addressing micronutrient deficiencies.

According to him, in Nigeria, deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, iron, zinc, and iodine continue to affect vulnerable populations, including children and women of reproductive age.

He added that SON, in line with its mandate, is committed to ensuring that fortified foods produced, imported and distributed across the country comply with established Nigerian Industrial Standards.

He maintained that SON develops and maintains national fortification standards for premixes and fortified food products through broad stakeholder consultations.

“It also conducts factory inspections to verify compliance with mandatory fortification requirements and certifies compliant products under the Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme (MANCAP), in alignment with international best practices.

Mr Musa Bagos, compliance manager of NASCO Foods, commended SON for organising the workshop, noting that food fortification is a critical component of their production.