Kaduna seeks better nutrition funding at grassroots

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Kaduna State Government has praised Kudan Local Government Area for its dedication to nutrition and has urged the council to increase local funding to combat malnutrition at the community level.

The praise was given on Monday during an advocacy event organized by Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), in partnership with the Kaduna State Planning and Budget Commission and the Kaduna chapter of CS-SUNN, under the Partnership for Improving Nigeria Nutrition Systems (PINNS 3.0).

Priscilla Dariya, the Director of Development Aid Coordination at the Planning and Budget Commission, who led the state team, commended Kudan LGA for aligning with the state’s nutrition goals. She mentioned that the council has a nutrition desk officer who reports quarterly at state coordination meetings, making it one of the LGAs actively promoting nutrition efforts.

“We are here first to appreciate you for the efforts you have made so far, and second, like Oliver Twist, to ask for more,” Dariya said. She urged the council to mobilize additional resources, emphasizing that many children in Kudan and across Kaduna still urgently need nutrition support.

In response, Usman Abbas, Vice Chairman of Kudan LGA representing the Council Chairman, Dauda Iliya Abba, reaffirmed the council’s commitment of N1.250 million annually to nutrition activities. He explained that this allocation is part of the council’s effort to complement the state government’s annual nutrition matching fund, which ranges between N350 million and N400 million.

Abbas, who also chairs the council’s Committee on Food and Nutrition, said he would personally engage the chairman to ensure nutrition activities receive proper budget attention.

“We know what is going on in the budget and the commitment that has been made for nutrition activities. I will discuss with him personally, and I know he will be happy to hear this observation,” he said.

The Vice Chairman also highlighted the need for the LGA to develop and implement a detailed Nutrition Action Plan to address community nutrition challenges better. He praised the health secretary for improved fund releases, noting, “This month is the second month since her commencement, and I think it is an improvement. Before, we could go three or four months without releasing the funds.”

He described the health secretary as diligent and dedicated, adding that her efforts have helped highlight areas needing improvement. Abbas expressed hope that stronger collaboration among the council leadership, health officials, and committee members would enhance nutrition and other health programs in the LGA.

Celestina Ayim, Kaduna State Coordinator of CS-SUNN, emphasized that local governments are crucial to achieving better nutrition outcomes because they are closest to the people.

Citing the 2023 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, Ayim noted that Kaduna State still faces significant challenges with a stunting rate of 40.7%, 24.7% of children underweight, and about 50% of women of reproductive age experiencing anemia.

“These figures are not just statistics. They represent real children, women, and families in our communities. When we talk about nutrition, we are talking about human capital and the future of our LGA,” she said.

Ayim urged Kudan LGA to prioritize nutrition in its budget with clear, dedicated allocations; ensure timely release and effective use of funds; strengthen the Local Government Committee on Food and Nutrition; and improve monitoring and evaluation.

Oludare Isaac, Programs Officer at CS-SUNN headquarters, also expressed that the Federal Government’s Nutrition 774 initiative is designed to drive interventions across all 774 LGAs. He pointed out that research shows every dollar invested in nutrition can generate up to sixteen dollars in economic returns, calling nutrition “a smart investment, not an expenditure.”

He added that low-cost, high-impact interventions can be carried out at the LGA level with political commitment, budget allocation, and financial support.

The event ended with both CS-SUNN and Kudan LGA agreeing to strengthen collaboration to turn nutrition policies into better outcomes for children and women in the area.