Stakeholders Seek Increased Funding To Tackle Nigeria’s Nutrition Crisis

Stakeholders have called for increased government funding and stronger legislative action to address Nigeria’s worsening nutrition crisis, warning that inadequate investment is worsening food insecurity among vulnerable households, particularly children.

The call was made at the end of the Strategic Policy Dialogue on the implementation of nutrition programmes in Nigeria, held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The forum, organised by the Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other partners, brought together policymakers, lawmakers and development partners to review progress and identify gaps in the country’s nutrition programmes.

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health and Focal Person on Nutrition in the Office of the Vice President, Uju Rochas-Anwukah, said the dialogue was convened to galvanise government and legislative support for increased investment in affordable food and quality nutrition.

She urged the federal government, state governments, the 774 local government councils, the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly to prioritise the effective implementation of food security and nutrition programmes to improve public health.

Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Nutrition, Chike Okafor, identified inadequate funding as a major obstacle to the effective implementation of nutrition programmes across the country.

He said Nigeria requires about 1.5 per cent of its annual budget to adequately fund nutrition programmes but currently allocates only 0.5 per cent.

“Sustainable progress depends on effective implementation, predictable financing, strong institutions, robust legislative oversight and continuous accountability,” Okafor said.

He also urged state Houses of Assembly to increase budgetary allocations for nutrition, ensure the timely release of approved funds and require ministries, departments and agencies to submit quarterly implementation reports.

Participants at the dialogue, which focused on the theme: “Strengthening Legislative Action for Improved Nutrition Outcomes,” and drew delegates from Kano, Kaduna, Niger, Lagos, Bauchi and Nasarawa states, also stressed the need for stronger leadership and institutional capacity to improve the implementation of nutrition policies.

In a communiqué signed by Mbang Koofreh Adah and other resource persons, the conference called for increased funding and effective implementation of nutrition policies and programmes by the federal government, states and the 774 local government councils. It also urged the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly to strengthen legislative frameworks that would guarantee sustainable funding for nutrition interventions.