Abuja, July 16, 2024 – The National Council on Nutrition (NCN) has approved new measures to address malnutrition and food insecurity in the country.
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who is also the Chairman of the Council, announced this on Tuesday in Abuja at the end of the council meeting.
He said the objective of the new measures was to improve the nutritional status of all Nigerians.
Shettima called for active and proactive participation from all involved, including ministries, departments, agencies, development partners, and other stakeholders.
“Our dedication to this Council reflects President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to improving the nutritional status of every Nigerian,” he said.
He said one measures would be the establishment of a national nutrition dashboard to be hosted by the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning which will also be uploaded on the website of the NCN.
Shetiima said the dashboard would provide better oversight and coordination of nutrition-related initiatives across the country.
He said the President Tinubu’s administration recognised the urgency of the food crises and was addressing its underlying causes to develop more resilient and sustainable food systems in Nigeria.
The Vice President commended the efforts of all stakeholders in the nutrition space and assured development partners and other actors of the federal government’s readiness to work with them.
“We are willing and ready to work with you for the good of the Nigerian nation. Let us forge ahead with optimism and resolve, knowing that together we are making substantial changes in the lives of our people.
“I extend my gratitude for your steadfast support and diligent efforts.
“Collaboration is paramount to our continued success in addressing national nutrition challenges, and I encourage active and proactive participation from all involved ministries and partners, as your contributions are essential to our progress.
Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, stressed the administration’s commitment to prioritising nutrition as a crucial component of national development.
“This initiative provides us an opportunity to step up our collective efforts to improve the country’s food and nutrition security,” he said.
Bagudu said the meeting, which received updates on Nigeria’s current nutritional status, focused on proposing actionable recommendations and exploring ways to enhance the implementation of existing nutrition intervention programmes in line with national policy.
Sen. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, listed eight interrelated priority areas designed to address the nation’s nutritional needs.
These include enhancing value chains for improved nutrition, diversifying household production and consumption with a focus on women, improving access to micronutrient-rich foods, and enhancing food safety along the value chain.
He said plans were onto build resilience and social protection networks for vulnerable groups, promote nutrition research, and improve the agriculture sector’s capacity to address food security and nutrition problems. (GBN)
