The Federal Government of Nigeria says 79% of its population is food insecure, grappling with a triple burden of malnutrition—undernutrition, overnutrition, and micronutrient deficiency—severely impacting health and economic potential, particularly among women and children.

Speaking at the Nigeria Health Watch Roundtable in Abuja, themed “Fortifying Nigeria’s Future: Strengthening Nutrition through Local Solutions,” Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, cited the National Food Consumption and Micronutrient Survey.

Kachollom noted that nearly half of households use unbranded, unfortified vegetable oil despite national fortification policies. “Strengthening domestic premix production is not just an economic necessity—it is a national imperative,” Kachollom said, calling for tax waivers and sustainable financing to support Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

The 2024 Demographic and Health Survey revealed stark figures: 40% of children aged six to 59 months are stunted, 8% are wasted, and 27% are underweight.

One in three children lacks sufficient vitamin A, over one in three is zinc deficient, and more than 20% suffer from iron deficiency.

Adolescent girls and pregnant women face high rates of vitamin A and iron deficiencies, posing risks to maternal and newborn health. Kachollom attributed these issues to nutrient-poor diets heavy in staples like maize, cassava, and rice, worsened by inflation, floods, and conflict disrupting food production.

Vivianne Ihekweazu, Managing Director of Nigeria Health Watch, described the situation as a “sobering crisis,” noting Nigeria’s 110th ranking out of 127 countries on the 2024 Global Hunger Index.

Ihekweazu emphasized food fortification as a cost-effective solution.

Director of Nutrition Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi called for stronger regulation, incentives for local premix producers, and real-time monitoring to ensure compliance.

Despite 95% salt iodization and progress in fortifying wheat flour, sugar, and vegetable oil, inconsistent compliance among MSMEs remains a challenge.

The push for local fortification aligns with debates over genetically modified organisms (GMOs) like TELA maize, which some see as a yield-boosting solution, while others fear it could undermine local food systems.

Scaling fortification and local production will be critical to addressing Nigeria’s nutritional challenges without sacrificing economic or agricultural autonomy.