The recent report that malnutrition has risen by 51 per cent in the northern part of the country is a wake-up call on the federal and state governments to declare a national emergency on food production. The International President of the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) or Doctors Without Borders, Dr. Christos Christou, raised the alarm over a huge increase in the number of malnourished children in northern Nigeria. The MSF boss lamented that the people in northern Nigeria had been through a lot with overwhelming levels of malnutrition, frequent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, lack of medical facilities and personnel and rising insecurity.
In June 2024, UNICEF reported that around 11 million Nigerian children were experiencing severe child food poverty. According to the report, this translates to one in every three Nigerian children under five years old. Nigeria has about 31 million children under five. UNICEF defines severe child food poverty as consuming no more than two out of eight food groups. Across the world, not less than 181million children under the age of five are said to be facing severe child food poverty. Nigeria ranks among the 20 countries that account for 65 per cent or two-thirds of these children.
An estimated 2 million children in Nigeria suffer from severe acute malnutrition. UNICEF says that malnutrition is a direct or underlying cause of 45 per cent of all deaths of under-five children. Nigeria has the second highest burden of stunted children in the world, with a national prevalence of 32 per cent of children under five.
While malnutrition is more acute in northern Nigeria, other parts of the country are also affected by malnutrition on account of rising prices of foodstuff and increasing food shortage in the country. The economic hardship arising from the government’s removal of fuel subsidy and floating of the naira has reduced the purchasing power of many Nigerians. The clashes between killer herdsmen and farmers in the North-Central zone and other zones of the country have whittled the ability of our farmers to grow the much-needed food for the teeming population.
The rise in malnutrition cannot be ruled out in a country where there are 133 million people who are multi-dimensionally poor. Not quite long ago, the Assistant Country Representative of Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), Salisu Mohammed, disclosed that “the March 2024 Cadre Harmonise projected that 31.8 million people in Nigeria are at risk of food insecurity.” Moreover, Nigeria post-harvest food loss is over 50 per cent.
Across the country, the estimated food loss is about 855,629 metric tons. This is equivalent to food that could feed 8.5 million people for six months. The recent World Bank’s report underscores a bleak future for the economy. In its update report on Nigeria’s development, the bank stated that over 129 million Nigerians now live below the poverty line. The bank blamed the upsurge in poverty to inflation, poor economic management and external shocks.
It is commendable that the government is doing everything possible to tackle hunger in the country. According to the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Aliyu Abdulahi, the government has achieved much in the sector as a result of federal government’s policy initiatives and funding. The minister also stated that Nigeria ranked first in cassava and yam production in 2017 with 59.4 million tons and 47.9 million tons, respectively. Nigeria equally ranked 14th with 10.42 million tons and 4th in palm oil production with 7.7million tons in the same year. Despite these achievements, we need to do more to be able to curb the rising malnutrition in the country.
We laud the federal government’s plan to work together with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the World Bank to wage a relentless war against malnutrition and save 11 million Nigerian children from the existential scourge. The collaboration will focus on pregnant women, adolescent girls and children under five in 11 high-burden states.
Beyond this intervention is the urgent need to boost the nation’s agriculture so that we can produce enough food for over 200 million Nigerians. With enough arable land in the country for growing different types of crops, grains, fruits and vegetables, Nigerians need not suffer from hunger and malnutrition. Our land is also suitable for poultry and animal husbandry. We have enough body of waters for fisheries.
Since insecurity and herders/farmers clashes have affected the rate of food production in the country, we urge the federal government to wrap up the war against insurgents, bandits, terrorists and other criminals. Government should reduce food inflation by boosting food production through mechanized agriculture. Let farmers invest in high yielding seedlings and crops as well as high quality goats and cattle. We urge the 36 state governors to encourage large-scale farming, which will produce enough food for the country. Government should also encourage foreign investors in the sector.