With over 33 million Nigerians projected to face acute food and nutrition insecurity in 2025, stakeholders have issued a clarion call for urgent and integrated action to address the dual crises of climate change and malnutrition in the country.

This appeal was made during a high-level National Stakeholder Consultation on Climate and Nutrition Integration, convened yesterday in Abuja by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) through its flagship initiative, Initiative on Climate Action and Nutrition (I-CAN).

The consultation brought together a broad coalition of government representatives, civil society actors, private sector leaders, researchers, and development partners to explore actionable strategies for aligning Nigeria’s climate and nutrition policies.

Delivering his remarks, Dr. Michael Ojo, Country Director, GAIN Nigeria, stated: “Climate change is not just an environmental crisis—it is also a nutrition crisis. As droughts, floods, and extreme weather events increasingly disrupt food systems and livelihoods, access to safe, affordable, and nutritious food is becoming more difficult, especially for vulnerable populations including women, children, and smallholder farmers.”

He cited a recent policy landscape analysis by GAIN and partners, which reviewed over 40 national and sub-national policies. Findings revealed that fewer than 10% of these demonstrate meaningful integration between climate and nutrition goals a critical gap in Nigeria’s policy framework.

“The evidence is clear: efforts exist but operate in silos. That must change,” Dr. Ojo emphasized. “Nigeria is not starting from scratch. We have strong institutions and dedicated professionals. What we now need is alignment, coordination, and a shared commitment to act.”

He reaffirmed GAIN’s commitment to supporting the Nigerian government in developing coherent, evidence-based policies that build climate resilience while improving nutritional outcomes. He urged stakeholders to move beyond discussions into coordinated, cross-sectoral implementation.

The I-CAN initiative—launched at COP27 by the Government of Egypt in partnership with GAIN, WHO, FAO, UNEP, and other global organizations—aims to bridge the gap between climate and nutrition agendas by helping countries align their policies, investments, and programmes.

Speaking at the event, Antony Ogolla, I-CAN Project Coordinator, and Obinna Igwebuike, CEO of Sawubona Advisory Services, highlighted findings from their in-depth policy review, again noting the significant lack of integration between climate and nutrition frameworks across existing Nigerian documents.

Participants engaged in breakout sessions, peer-learning forums, and strategy-building workshops aimed at co-developing actionable pathways to strengthen Nigeria’s food systems and resilience to climate shocks.

According to Mrs. Joyce Akpata, a lead facilitator at the event, “We are not asking for ideas anymore. We are asking for action. Integration is no longer optional—it is the only way forward.”

Stakeholders are expected to submit concrete, time-bound commitments, which will be documented and monitored by GAIN in collaboration with relevant national and sectoral institutions.

The consultation marks a significant step toward building a mission-driven, sustainable, and climate-resilient nutrition system in Nigeria, in alignment with the country’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) commitments for 2030.