The Federal Government has intensified efforts to tackle malnutrition across Nigeria with the launch of the Nutrition 774 Initiative, a nationwide programme aimed at improving nutrition outcomes in all local government areas of the country.
Speaking during the 15th meeting of the National Council on Nutrition held virtually on Tuesday, Vice President Kashim Shettima said the initiative reflects the government’s strong commitment to ending malnutrition and improving the wellbeing of Nigerian children and families.
According to Shettima, the success of the programme will be measured by its impact across all 774 local government areas, stressing that every child in the country deserves equal access to nutrition support and healthcare interventions.
He noted that the proposed National Nutrition Bill would serve as a critical legal framework to safeguard nutrition funding and clearly define responsibilities across federal, state, and local governments.
During the meeting, the National Council on Nutrition also approved the National Policy on Food and Nutrition (NPFN) 2026–2035 and directed the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning to forward the policy to the Federal Executive Council for final ratification.
The Vice President described the policy as one of the country’s most important nutrition frameworks, explaining that it was designed to be evidence-based, community-focused, and collaborative across multiple sectors.
He further directed all relevant ministries, departments, and agencies to align their policies, budgets, and development plans with the new nutrition policy within the next year.
The council also approved an extension for the submission of the draft National Nutrition Bill, with instructions for it to be sent to the National Assembly within eight weeks.
As part of broader reforms, the council expanded the nutrition financing sub-committee to include the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, the Commissioners of Finance Forum, and the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).
Shettima explained that the financing framework would combine domestic funding, bilateral and multilateral support, private sector investment, and innovative financing mechanisms to strengthen nutrition programmes nationwide.
The council additionally directed the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, in collaboration with the Office of the Vice President, to establish State Councils on Nutrition in the remaining states and the FCT within three months to ensure stronger grassroots implementation.
Stakeholders from both the public and private sectors expressed support for the new policy, describing it as a major investment in the future health and development of Nigerian children.
