THE Federal Government plans to address the problem of malnutrition in the country with the proposed provision of a litre of milk a day to over 30,000,000 children in secondary and primary schools under the school feeding programme.

File Photo: Children with their milk drink in the Makoko school

Quoting UNESCO statistics that said 24 per cent of Nigerian children under the age of five are under weight while 37 per cent are malnourished.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh said that the Federal Government will tackle the problem of malnutrition which adversely affects the intelligent quotient of children.

Ogbeh, who disclosed this during a meeting with a team from the West African Milk Company (WAMCO) in Abuja, added that the Federal Government will next year embark on a programme to develop massive grazing grounds for cattle to bring roaming and its attendant problem to an end.

The minister disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will acquire 10 deep water rigs from the Borno State Government and build windmills to operate wells that will provide water for the planned grazing grounds.

He added that the grazing grounds will not only improve the quantity and quality of beef and milk produced in the country, they will also make cattle rearers more sedentary.

Responding, Managing Director of the company, Mr. Rahul Colaco, explained that WAMCO, producer of Peak milk brand which has been in operation in Nigeria for about 60 years, was committed to creating the most professional and attractive dairy production in the country.