By Mercy Aikoye
The House of Representatives Committee on Nutrition and Food Security has directed the Ministry of Health to provide detailed information on all nutrition interventions implemented by the federal government and donor agencies.
This move aims to address malnutrition in the country. Committee Chairman,Hon. Chike Okafor, issued the directive during a budget defence session with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Daju Kachollom.
Hon. Okafor emphasized the need for concrete figures for the 2024 implementation and clearly defined projections for 2025. He also requested a comprehensive rundown of all support received from development partners, including funding, products, or services. The chairman stressed that all expenditures must be accounted for under Sections 81 and 82 of the 1999 Constitution.
Okafor highlighted the importance of understanding the plans and contributions of development partners for the current year. He noted that many development partners, especially foreign-based ones, outline their annual programs at the beginning of the year. The chairman requested to see their proposed contributions for 2025.
The Ministry of Health proposed ₦2,923,104,095 for nutrition interventions in the 2025 budget. The funds are intended for critical therapeutic supplies, such as Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS), folic acid, iron, and vitamin A. The Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, explained that the program focuses on community-based approaches and behavioral change communication.
Kachollom noted that 11 states are participating in the World Bank-funded Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) project. The program has led to significant reductions in stunting across various states over the past two years. For 2025, the Ministry aims to upscale interventions with the proposed funds, including procuring essential nutrition commodities and building the capacity of health workers.
The Ministry is also working to enhance local manufacturing of therapeutic foods. Currently, three local manufacturers are producing Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF). The focus is on reducing dependence on imports and fostering homegrown solutions to combat malnutrition.
The Permanent Secretary added that 32 out of 36 states have established nutrition committees, which the Ministry plans to collaborate with for more effective interventions. She appealed to the private sector to support the provision of RUTF for children.
The Committee commended the Ministry’s initiatives and reiterated the importance of ensuring that proposed funds and interventions are effectively utilized to tackle malnutrition and improve nutrition outcomes in Nigeria.
