By Folarin Kehinde, Abuja

Public health and nutrition experts have warned that the rapid spread of slums in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is undermining children’s critical first 1,000 days, exposing them to lifelong growth and developmental risks.

Speaking exclusively with vanguard on the growing crisis, Public Health Epidemiologist Dr. Nkiruka Ikeneche said slum conditions marked by poor sanitation, inadequate nutrition and limited access to healthcare are already undermining the survival and development of children under five.

“The first five years, especially the first 1,000 days, determine a child’s physical and cognitive future.

“Living in slums exposes children to malnutrition, repeated infections and delayed development, with consequences that often last a lifetime.”Ikeneche said.

She warned that failure to act urgently could turn the situation into a broader social crisis. “Poor living conditions are not just a family problem; they are a danger to society. This is a ticking time bomb,” she added.

Also speaking, Oluyemisi Akinsola, a Nutrition Researcher and PhD candidate at Utah State University, described the first 1,000 days from conception to a child’s second birthday as a narrow but decisive window for human development.

“In slum environments, children are exposed to unsafe water, overcrowding and poor sanitation, increasing the risk of diarrhoea and respiratory infections that interfere with nutrient absorption.

“Combined with food insecurity and reliance on low-cost, nutrient-poor diets, this places children at extremely high risk of undernutrition and developmental delay.”Akinsola explained.

According to her, the damage goes beyond physical growth. Chronic undernutrition, toxic stress and limited access to maternal and child health services undermine brain development, emotional stability and school readiness, while missed immunisations and delayed care increase preventable illnesses and deaths.

Akinsola noted that growth faltering often begins before birth due to poor maternal nutrition, leading to low birth weight and setting children on a disadvantaged growth path that is difficult to reverse after the first two years of life.

“Stunting, wasting and micronutrient deficiencies are common in these settings,” she said, citing a 2025 study by Abubakar et al., which found wasting rates of 10.7 per cent and underweight prevalence of 24.8 per cent among children in peri-urban communities such as Karu and Nyanya.

Experts stressed that neglecting the first 1,000 days has long-term consequences, including poor educational outcomes, reduced productivity and higher risk of chronic diseases, ultimately weakening national human capital.

To reverse the trend, they called for urgent investment in community-based nutrition programmes, growth monitoring, improved water and sanitation, and full integration of nutrition services into Primary Health Care (PHC).

They also urged the revitalisation of PHCs to reduce parents’ dependence on over-the-counter medications for young children.

“Protecting the first 1,000 days is not optional.

“This is where policy intent must translate into action, because safeguarding early childhood nutrition is ultimately about safeguarding the future of the nation.”Akinsola said.