By Emmanuel Elebeke

Abuja — Key stakeholders across government have called for urgent, coordinated and sustained action to address Nigeria’s growing micronutrient deficiency crisis, warning that malnutrition continues to undermine health outcomes, economic productivity and national development.

The call was made at the National Conference on Micronutrients, themed “Strengthening Resilient Systems for Addressing Micronutrient Deficiencies in Nigeria,” held in Abuja.

Speaking at the event, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, stressed that available evidence, partnerships and political commitments must now translate into concrete and measurable results.

Prof. Pate noted that despite adequate caloric intake, millions of Nigerians—particularly pregnant women, lactating mothers and children under five—continue to suffer from anaemia, zinc deficiency and other micronutrient gaps.

Citing the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), he disclosed that stunting remains high, while exclusive breastfeeding stands at just 29 per cent, reflecting persistent gaps in primary healthcare delivery.

“Enough evidence exists. It is now time to double down on implementation,” Pate said, stressing the need for dietary diversification, food fortification and micronutrient supplementation.

He outlined ongoing interventions by the Federal Government, including the distribution of 6.8 million bottles of multiple micronutrient supplements to pregnant women, the expansion of basic nutrition services from 12 to 21 states, and the training of over 10,000 health workers nationwide.

The minister also announced the inauguration of the National Advisory Committee on Micronutrient Deficiency and Control, alongside the unveiling of key nutrition policy documents to guide nationwide scale-up efforts.

Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Nutrition, Dr. Chike Okafor, warned that micronutrient deficiencies cost Nigeria an estimated $2.5 billion annually—about one per cent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product—due to their impact on maternal and child mortality, immunity, cognitive development and long-term productivity.

He noted that prevention is highly cost-effective, costing less than 10 per cent of the economic losses, but expressed concern that more than 80 per cent of micronutrient supplies are currently donor-funded, raising sustainability concerns.

Dr. Okafor said the National Assembly is strengthening legislative oversight, budgetary support and lawmaking efforts, including proposed bills on fortified cooking oil and six-month maternity leave.

Representing the Presidency, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health, Dr. Uju Anwuka, described Nigeria’s nutrition challenge as a triple burden of malnutrition—undernutrition, micronutrient deficiency and rising obesity.

She called for strong political will, multisectoral coordination and country-led solutions, noting that the Vice President has prioritised nutrition across policy, financing and governance frameworks.

According to her, nutrition is not only a health issue but a critical development imperative requiring a unified national response.

Also speaking, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, said micronutrient deficiency is both an agricultural and economic challenge that requires transformation of Nigeria’s food systems.

He highlighted the ministry’s commitment to biofortification, nutrition-sensitive agriculture and dietary diversification, supported by initiatives such as Nutrition N774, Accelerated Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) and RING 2.0.

Kyari called for stronger partnerships and sustainable, scalable interventions to ensure access to nutrient-dense foods in both rural and urban communities.

The conference concluded with a collective commitment to accountability, sustained investment and coordinated action, as stakeholders agreed that tackling malnutrition is central to building a healthier, more productive and food-secure Nigeria.

A major highlight of the conference was the formal inauguration of the National Advisory Committee on Micronutrient Deficiency and Control by the Coordinating Minister of Health, as well as the unveiling of new national nutrition policy documents.