The 2021 National Food Consumption and Micronutrient Survey has revealed that 79 per cent of Nigerians are currently experiencing food insecurity.
This revelation comes at a time when the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government is deeply concerned about the country’s ‘triple burden’ of malnutrition, which includes undernutrition, overnutrition, and the widespread issue of micronutrient deficiencies, also known as ‘hidden hunger.
This alarming findings came to light when Ms. Daju Kachollom, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, delivered a lecture themed “Fortifying Nigeria’s Future: Strengthening Nutrition through Local Solutions” on Thursday in Abuja at the Nigeria Health Watch Roundtable.
Represented by Mrs Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, Director of Nutrition, the investigation showed that the worsening food insecurity is linked to high inflation, recurring floods, and persistent conflict, which continue to disrupt farming and livelihoods.
Amidst these challenges, the implementation of Large-Scale Food Fortification (LSFF) emerges as a beacon of hope in the fight against micronutrient deficiencies.
The survey’s findings are alarming. Among children in the same age group, one in three is vitamin A deficient, over one-third are zinc deficient, and more than 20 per cent suffer from iron deficiency.
“Adolescent girls and pregnant women also face dangerously high levels of vitamin A and iron deficiency, threatening maternal and newborn health,” Kachollom pointed out.
The Permanent Secretary highlighted that most Nigerian diets, dominated by calorie-rich but nutrient-poor staples such as maize, cassava, and rice, are lacking in essential vitamins and minerals.
Citing the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), stunting affects 40 per cent of children aged 6–59 months, with wasting at 8 per cent and underweight at 27 per cent.
Kachollom noted that micronutrient deficiencies impair cognitive development, reduce productivity, and increase maternal and child mortality.
Meanwhile, she recognised that Nigeria has made progress, achieving 95 per cent salt iodisation and commendable fortification of wheat flour, sugar, and vegetable oil.
“Compliance, particularly among Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), remains inconsistent due to weak enforcement, low awareness, and limited access to affordable premixes, ” she emphasised.
She also highlighted that, although Nigeria has local premix blending facilities, the sector remains heavily reliant on imported raw materials, which raises costs and increases vulnerability to currency fluctuations.
Bako-Aiyegbusi, represented by Mrs Ummulkhaire Bobboi of NAFDAC, in a paper entitled “Addressing the Fortification Gap: Strengthening Local Systems to Scale Impact and Save Lives,” emphasised that food fortification enhances public health, lowers healthcare costs, and boosts productivity.
Despite sound policies, she said, Nigeria still faces a significant gap between its nutrition targets and actual outcomes.
She urged a multi-stakeholder approach, calling on the government to tighten regulations, support local premix production, and adopt technology like the Digital Fortification Quality Traceability Plus platform to monitor compliance.
Private sector players, she said, must invest in domestic production, while civil society and development partners provide technical support and advocacy.
Also speaking at the roundtable, Mrs Vivianne Ihekweazu, Managing Director of Nigeria Health Watch, was represented by Mrs Safiya Isa, Deputy Director of Advocacy, who stated that inconsistent compliance, especially among MSMEs, is a significant hurdle in Nigeria’s fortification efforts.
“Many MSMEs struggle with access to affordable premixes, financing, and reliable quality control systems, leading to substandard fortified foods,” she said.
She called for stronger local solutions, including scaling up domestic premix production and tightening fortification enforcement.
“This roundtable is critical as it unites government, private sector, civil society, and development partners to explore sustainable strategies to strengthen Nigeria’s fortification ecosystem and save lives,” she added.