By Tony Obiechina Abuja
The federal government plans to review the existing National Policy on Food and Nutrition in Nigeria in line with the present administration’s goals and commitments.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Vitalis Emeka Obi, disclosed this known in his welcome remarks at a Stakeholders Consultation Meeting for Review of the National Policy on Food and Nutrition and National Multisectoral Plan of action for Food and Nutrition held in the Ministry on Tuesday.
Dr. Obi noted that due to various implementation challenges there was a need for a review and update so as to ensure that the policy remains relevant and responsive to the evolving food and nutrition challenges in Nigeria.
He said, “The current policy on food and nutrition as approved by the Federal Executive Council in April 2016 is due for review and this will help guide our effort towards ensuring food and nutrition security being one of the mantras of this administration, he said, it will help to promote healthy diets as well as address all forms of malnutrition both at national and subnational levels of government.”
He further stated that the policy landscape of food and nutrition in the country is dynamic with new challenges such as climate change, urbanisation, economic volatility and various pandemic birthed the need for the document review.
His words, “On close examination, three national demographic health surveys – 2018, 2023 and 2024, showed that the prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight children under five years did increase in 2018 from 37 per cent to 40 per cent, in 2023 from 7 per cent to 8 per cent and 2024 it moved from 22 per cent to 27 per cent, despite all government’s efforts to tackle it”.
He remarked that Nigeria is currently going through a double barrel of malnutrition and overnutrition and with a high rate of fertility, reviewing the policy will help put a focus on healthy food as well as adapting to changes in the production and distribution of food in the food value chain.
In his welcome address, the Director, Social Development, Dr. Sanjo Faniran, emphasised that as a country, we have a commitment to see that the policy document guiding the Food and Nutrition policy in Nigeria is reviewed, he urged stakeholders to deliberate and prepare for the commencement of another policy in January, 2026.
While delivering her goodwill address, the Director and Head of Nutrition Department, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Mrs. Ladi Bako-Aiyebusi, revealed that laudable policies and plans have been put in place to have a better policy and thus enjoined everyone right from the decision makers and families to put in their efforts for robust results.
The revision of the Nutrition Policy on Food and Nutrition is crucial to addressing the complex, evolving and multi-faceted nature of Nigeria’s food and nutrition challenges. The current National Policy on Food and Nutrition (2016 – 2025) has been recognized as an important step towards addressing the country’s nutritional crises.
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