Vice President Kashim Shettima has sounded the alarm over the scale of malnutrition in Nigeria, warning that the crisis is depriving nearly 40% of children under five of their full physical and cognitive potential.
Speaking at the National Summit on Nutrition and Food Security in Abuja, Shettima — represented by Senator Ibrahim Hadejia, Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President) — described the situation as a national emergency requiring urgent and collective action.
“This crisis continues to rob nearly 40% of Nigerian children under five of their physical and cognitive development,” he said. “Food insecurity is not just about hunger. It’s about whether people can afford, access, and accept food that meets their nutritional needs. It affects the economy, education, and the very foundation of human capital development.”
To tackle the crisis, the Nigerian Government has launched the Nutrition 774 Initiative, a grassroots-focused programme targeting Nigeria’s most neglected communities. The initiative, approved by the National Council on Nutrition chaired by Shettima, forms a key part of the Renewed Hope Agenda, which places nutrition at the centre of national development.
“At the heart of this strategy lies the Nutrition 774 Initiative — not designed for elegance on paper but to make an impact in the most forgotten corners of our nation,” Shettima noted.
He also announced the formation of the Nutrition 774 Strategic Board, a high-level governance body comprising legislators, civil society actors, and government technocrats to oversee the programme’s implementation.
“This is how we build accountability — by moving from rhetoric to results,” he said. “We are not alone in this effort.”
Shettima praised development partners such as the World Bank, UNICEF, Médecins Sans Frontières, and Nutrition International for supporting community-level nutrition programmes. He stressed the importance of better coordination among stakeholders to avoid duplication and inefficiency.
“The era of fragmented interventions is over. Nigeria needs one plan, one voice, one framework, and unified accountability. Anything less is a betrayal of the children who depend on us,” he stated.
He commended both the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly for creating a National Legislative Network on Nutrition and Food Security, with similar committees replicated in all 36 states — calling it an unprecedented achievement in legislative support.
“Budgetary allocations for nutrition must be consistent, adequate, and protected,” he said. “Oversight must go beyond audits; it must measure real impact. Policies must not die in chambers — they must live and breathe in our communities.”