The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to addressing the critical issues of malnutrition and food insecurity by prioritizing nutrition in its budgeting and development agenda. This strategic focus aims to tackle the lingering challenges of malnutrition and ensure food security across the nation.
The Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, emphasized this commitment during the opening of the two-day 2023/24 Annual Results Conference of the Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRIN) Project, held in Abuja.
In his address, Senator Bagudu highlighted that the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning has developed a medium-term development plan (2021–2025) and a long-term agenda (2050) that place nutrition at the forefront of national development. This approach, he noted, is part of a broader effort by the current administration to strategically shift the narrative and address the negative indicators in Nigeria’s nutrition landscape.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Emeka Vitalis Obi, the Minister explained that one of the key strategic approaches to achieving these goals is sustainability. He stressed the importance of ensuring that successive governments continue to prioritize nutrition in the nation’s development agenda, thereby securing long-term benefits for the population.
The Minister further disclosed that the Federal Government, with the support of the ANRIN Project, has successfully institutionalized a nutrition budget tagging and tracking system. Additionally, the government has developed a National Nutrition Dashboard and strengthened the coordination of nutrition interventions at both the national and sub-national levels. These initiatives, according to Senator Bagudu, are designed to enhance sustainable commitment and promote accountability in nutrition spending across all levels of government.
“Our gathering here today is pivotal to our nation’s journey towards ensuring that every Nigerian has access to adequate nutritious food and a healthy diet,” the Minister stated. “As we are all aware, the challenges we face today are enormous, but they also present an opportunity to transform our food systems and health outcomes through informed policies and practices.”
Senator Bagudu underscored that the prioritization of nutrition in the Development Agenda reflects the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning’s dedication to aggressively tackling malnutrition, stunting, and wasting in Nigeria. He emphasized that nutrition is not merely a health issue, but a cross-cutting determinant of economic growth, social equity, and human capital development, which are crucial for sustainable development. “Our policies reflect an understanding that we need robust policy measures that are tailored to the diverse needs of our population,” he added.
Highlighting the achievements of the ANRIN Project, the Minister noted significant progress in various implementing states. He cited the Federal Government’s multisectoral convergence pilot project in Gombe State, which focuses on sectors such as Agriculture, Health, Social Welfare, Education, Women Affairs, and Planning, as well as the National Social Safety Nets Program. This pilot project, which leverages the strengths of each ministry to implement nutrition-sensitive and specific interventions, has shown considerable improvements in nutrition uptake among the people.
The conference serves as a critical platform for stakeholders to review progress, share insights, and explore innovative solutions to further advance Nigeria’s nutrition agenda.
