Nigeria has been ranked second globally in malnutrition prevalence, a senior aide to President Bola Tinubu disclosed on Wednesday, highlighting the country’s deepening nutrition crisis despite ongoing interventions.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ summit on food and nutrition security in Abuja, the Special Adviser to the President on Health and Nutrition, Dr. Salma Anas-Kolo, described the figures as alarming, citing recent global health indices that place Nigeria behind only India in terms of malnutrition burden.
“We are facing a national emergency,” Dr. Anas-Kolo said. “Currently, over 35 million Nigerians — mostly children and women — are suffering from various forms of malnutrition. This is a crisis that threatens our human capital and future productivity.”
She noted that despite efforts by federal and state governments to roll out nutrition programs, millions of children under five still suffer from stunting, wasting, and micronutrient deficiencies, particularly in northern regions affected by conflict and poverty.
The presidential aide called for urgent multi-sectoral action involving government, donors, private sector, and civil society to address the root causes of malnutrition, including food insecurity, poverty, poor maternal health, and lack of access to clean water.
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Nigeria loses an estimated $1.5 billion annually in potential economic productivity due to the long-term impact of malnutrition on cognitive development and workforce readiness.
Public health experts at the summit emphasized the need for greater investment in nutrition-sensitive agriculture, school feeding programs, and widespread education on child and maternal health practices.
The Federal Government has pledged to scale up nutrition funding in the 2026 budget and strengthen accountability mechanisms for food distribution and child welfare initiatives.
