By Ochiaka Ugwu
Malnutrition has been described as a silent crisis that threatens Nigeria’s future, stunts human potential, weakens communities and slows down economic growth.
The Vice President of Nigeria, Kashim Shettima who made this known Thursday in Abuja at the opening of a Two-Day Workshop to review and finalise the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the nutrition 774 initiative said the programme was a significant step in a shared journey to combat malnutrition and improve nutrition outcomes across all 774 Local Government Areas in Nigeria.
Shettima represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Office of the Vice President, Sen. Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia said the initiative reflects collective resolve to ensure that every Nigerian, especially children, has access to the nutrition they need to survive, grow, and thrive.
Shettima stated that Nutrition 774 Initiative was designed to bring multi-sectoral action right to the grassroots and
about making sure that no community, no household—no child—was left behind.
He informed the initiative requires more than just a single-sector response, but needed coordinated action across health, agriculture, education, water and sanitation, social protection, and other sectors, if we want to make meaningful impact.
“I would like to reiterate that this government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is deeply committed to strengthening Nigeria’s human capital and improving quality of life for all citizens. This is why nutrition is prioritized in our national development agenda
“The Nutrition 774 Initiative offers us a clear framework to do just that. It focuses on delivering high-impact interventions at the grassroots level. But here is the key: while the government leads this effort, this isn’t a government-only project.
“It is a Shared responsibility that demands the active participation of everyone—federal, state, and local governments, development partners, the private sector, civil society, academia, and the media” he stated.
Also speaking, Chairman of House of Representatives Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, Hon. Chike John Okafor said that food insecurity and malnutrition were becoming threats to national security, noting that an angry mob with empty stomachs can hardly be pacified, and would not be amenable to logical discussion and negotiation.
“Food insecurity and malnutrition are becoming threats to national security, because an angry mob with empty stomachs can hardly be pacified, neither are they amenable to logical discussion and negotiation.
“Such are easily recruited as thugs in exchange for food. These, among other reasons underscores the importance my committee, and the network attaches to addressing this twin challenge through a legislative perspective anchored on increased domestic resource mobilization through appropriation, review and harmonization of existing laws, and strategic oversight” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the partners, UNICEF Nigeria Chief of Nutrition, Dr. Chizoba Edemba said that as the N774 was being launched, a draft of the standard operating procedure (SOP) guideline has been developed by a team of consultants and stakeholders.
She said the meeting was aimed at interrogating and validating the document by relevant stakeholders, which will provide the guideline for the roll-out of the implementation of the Nutrition (N774) initiative in the country.
