By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
Determined to tackle the scourge of malnutrition prevalent in the country, the Federal government is considering the establishment of urban farms school and home gardens under the “Operation Feed Your Initiative”.
Minister of State for Finance, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba made the disclosure while flagging off the 2021 Nigeria Nutrition Week organised by the ministry in Collaboration with the Nutrition Society of Nigeria in Abuja.
He said, the plan for “Operation Feed Yourself” is one of the three major plans arising from the UN-backed Food Systems Dialogues, to advance the fight against malnutrition in addition to supporting farmers across the country, with agrometeorological information and advisory services that will improve farm yields, and also encouraging State Governments to ensure prompt release of budgeted funds for nutrition and related interventions.
The Minister who noted that nutrition is not just a health issue, said “it is about the potential of the next generation. Let us all therefore ensure that every child has the opportunity to survive and thrive”.
He reaffirmed his Ministry’s commitment to stand ready to continue to support activities for the Nutrition Week with a view to addressing the burden of malnutrition in the country.
Agba said, “Nutrition represents the focal point of health and well-being of a nation and is directly linked to human resource development, productivity and ultimately to economic growth. Although malnutrition is a global problem, Nigeria is amongst the top countries which still suffer from this scourge.
“According to the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS 2018), Nigeria has an estimated 2.5 million children under the age of 5 years with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM).
“To signify the importance of nutrition to human life and development, various governmental agencies and non-governmental organisations observe this week through various activities and programmes with a selected theme that highlights malnutrition related issues.
“Our renewed vision is a Nigeria where all children, particularly the most vulnerable, have access to safe and nutritious meals. Health is only wealth when our food becomes our medicine and our medicine is our food.
“As you may all be aware, the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic had a global negative effect on the economy and health of citizens of every nation and Nigeria had its fair share. The Covid-19 challenge has been further accentuated by the impact of Climate Change and other vices plaguing the country.
“The effect has resulted in lower incomes and higher prices of food items thereby putting food out of the reach of many Nigerians and thereby undermining the government’s efforts to meet the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2: on “Zero hunger.”
“This, among others, necessitated the desire to carry out a week-long “Nutrition Campaign Week” which has, over the years, proved to be a veritable platform for intensifying awareness on the importance of food and nutrition on child survival. This can be attested to by some of the achievements recorded during the past editions of the programme”.
He assured that in spite of the challenges, in the health sector, the Government has not relented on its efforts to build, protect the economy and fund the healthcare sector, pointed out that this year’s theme – “Food Systems Transformation for Healthy Diets and Nutrition: Our Collective Responsibility” was carefully selected to further drive home the importance the Ministry attaches to nutrition as a prerequisite for our national development.
He noted that under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria has shown a clear commitment to the eradication of malnutrition, as evident “in the prioritization of nutrition in the new National Development Plan 2021-2025 and Nigeria Agenda 2050 which places critical emphasis on strategic multi-sectoral interventions to address food and nutrition insecurity”.
The Minister disclosed that the Federal Executive Council at its meeting of November 10, 2021 approved the National Development Plan, (NDP) 2021-2025.
“The Plan is a blue print designed to guide the implementation of government policies and programmes and deliver on the aspirations of the current Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR. Some of the specific objectives of the plan are to improve GDP growth to 5.0 percent on average during the Plan period, generate 25 million jobs and lift 34 million Nigerians out of poverty. The NDP had a robust participation and input by very renowned nutrition experts in Nigeria”, he added.
Speaking on the essence of the Nutrition Week, the President of the Nutrition Society of Nigeria, Prof Wasiu Afolabi said the aim was to enlighten the people on the need to establish urban farms in order to boost the production of vegetables and other nutritious foods.
