{"id":120475,"date":"2025-07-09T05:28:23","date_gmt":"2025-07-09T04:28:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/?p=120475"},"modified":"2025-07-09T05:28:23","modified_gmt":"2025-07-09T04:28:23","slug":"malnutrition-threatening-40-of-nigerian-children-shettima","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pointblanknews.com\/pbn\/exclusive\/malnutrition-threatening-40-of-nigerian-children-shettima\/","title":{"rendered":"Malnutrition Threatening\u00a0 40% of Nigerian Children \u2014 Shettima"},"content":{"rendered":"
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By Tracy Moses<\/div>\n
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Vice President Kashim Shettima has raised the alarm over the escalating crisis of malnutrition in Nigeria, disclosing that nearly 40 percent of children under five years old are suffering severe physical and cognitive impairments due to poor nutrition.<\/div>\n
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Speaking on Tuesday at the National Summit on Nutrition and Food Security, held as part of the House of Representatives Open Week, the Vice President\u2014represented by Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), emphasized that the Federal Government has launched the Nutrition 774 Initiative, a grassroots-focused framework designed to address malnutrition in every local government area.<\/div>\n
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Shettima, who chairs the National Council on Nutrition, said the Tinubu administration has prioritized nutrition as a cornerstone of its national development agenda under the Renewed Hope framework. He lauded both federal and state legislatures for establishing the National Legislative Network on Nutrition and Food Security, and replicating it across the 36 state assemblies.<\/div>\n
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\u201cThis network marks a significant milestone in our legislative progress. However, today is not for celebration but for sober reflection on the malnutrition crisis that is stealing the future from our children,\u201d he said.<\/div>\n
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According to him, food insecurity in Nigeria goes beyond hunger. \u201cIt encompasses affordability, accessibility, and acceptability of nutritious food, impacting every sector of our society\u2014from the economy to education, and ultimately, the human capital we require for national growth.\u201d<\/div>\n
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Shettima described the Nutrition 774 Initiative as more than a policy document. Rather, it is a robust, action-oriented strategy tailored to the specific needs and resources of local communities.<\/div>\n
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To drive implementation, he said a strategic board comprising legislators, civil society leaders, and technical experts has been inaugurated. \u201cThis board is outcome-driven, not rhetoric-driven,\u201d he stated.<\/div>\n
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He also acknowledged the critical support of development partners including the World Bank, UNICEF, M\u00e9decins Sans Fronti\u00e8res (MSF), GAIN, and Nutrition International. However, he stressed the need for unified efforts and accountability frameworks to avoid duplication.<\/div>\n
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\u201cThe era of fragmented responses is over. Nigeria needs a single plan, one voice, and a harmonized accountability system. Anything less fails the millions of children who depend on us,\u201d he declared.<\/div>\n
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He urged lawmakers to guarantee dedicated and sustainable funding for nutrition programs, while strengthening oversight to ensure tangible results. \u201cLet the legacy of this summit be measured not by turnout, but by the actions it catalyzes,\u201d he charged.<\/div>\n
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Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, echoed the Vice President\u2019s sentiments, warning of the severe economic toll of malnutrition. He cited estimates that Nigeria loses approximately 12.2 percent of its Gross National Income\u2014around $56 billion annually\u2014due to malnutrition.<\/div>\n
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\u201cPost-harvest losses alone cost the nation nearly $2 billion every year. These are not abstract statistics; they represent a national emergency,\u201d Abbas said.<\/div>\n
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He revealed that the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security is engaging with stakeholders across all 36 states to move beyond policy declarations to concrete interventions through capacity building and collaborative action.<\/div>\n
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With Nigeria\u2019s expansive arable land and resilient agricultural workforce, Abbas expressed confidence in the country\u2019s potential to become a food production hub for Africa. He also disclosed that the National Assembly is considering two critical bills\u2014one to extend maternity leave to six months to enhance maternal and child nutrition, and another to prohibit the unsafe sale of bulk edible oil in open markets.<\/div>\n
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The Speaker also condemned the proliferation of levies imposed on food transporters, describing them as major drivers of food inflation. He called for transparency in the utilization of foreign loans earmarked for nutrition-focused programs.<\/div>\n
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\u201cHuman capital development is central to President Tinubu\u2019s Renewed Hope Agenda. This summit must mark a decisive turning point\u2014one that ensures our children are nourished, our mothers are supported, and our economy thrives,\u201d he said.<\/div>\n
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In his remarks, Chairman of the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, Hon. Chike Okafor, underscored the devastating public health and economic consequences of malnutrition, citing stunting, low birth weight, and anemia among women and children as symptoms of a deeper national crisis.<\/div>\n
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\u201cNigeria loses an estimated $56 billion annually to malnutrition, while post-harvest losses amount to $2 billion, more than the combined budgets of key nutrition-related ministries,\u201d Okafor noted.<\/div>\n
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He emphasized the need to shift from fragmented interventions to strategic, evidence-based approaches. He disclosed that the House has commenced targeted training to build capacity on the root causes of nutrition and food insecurity and advocated for institutionalizing such programs through partnerships with the National Institute for Democratic and Legislative Studies and development partners.<\/div>\n
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\u201cWe must guarantee that every naira spent on nutrition translates into measurable results. Development partners should no longer play the dual role of implementers and watchdogs. Transparency and accountability must guide every action,\u201d Okafor insisted.<\/div>\n
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He also hailed the enactment of the Nigeria Tax Administration Act 2025 (NTAA), which harmonizes tax procedures across all tiers of government. According to him, the law will help stabilize food prices and enhance food security by eliminating multiple levies on food transportation.<\/div>\n
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\u201cWe cannot afford to let insecurity and poor market access lead to food wastage. The time for action is now, before it becomes too late,\u201d he concluded<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n