Kaduna (Nigeria): Usman Musari, the Jigawa House of Assembly Committee Chairman on Health, has disclosed that each lawmaker contributed N10 million through constituency project funds to support nutrition programmes, totalling N300 million.
Musari stated this on Wednesday during a meeting scheduled by the UNICEF to enable Jigawa LGA Chairmen, Commissioners, and other high-level state officials to strengthen collaboration, improve the nutritional status of children and women in the state, and address Malnutrition, keying into the “Nutrition 774 (N-774)” initiative.
In attendance also were Permanent Secretaries and officials of the Jigawa Primary Healthcare Development Agency, among others.
“Nutrition 774 (N-774)” is designed to combat the malnutrition crisis and improve the nation’s nutrition indices across 774 LGAs of the country.
The N-774 initiative was inaugurated by the Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who presided over the 148th NEC meeting held at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on February 20.
The initiative was the first-ever national government-led intervention to combat Malnutrition, designed to improve coordination, financing, and accountability.
Musari, who doubles as the Vice Chairman of the state’s House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, expressed that the assembly had mandated local governments to incorporate nutrition and food security in their 2026 budgets to reduce maternal mortality rates.
“The state government is investing heavily in nutrition, and the house is committed to improving nutrition outcomes through legislation and budgetary allocations,” he said.
Dr Karanveer Singh, UNICEF Nutrition Manager, Kano Field Office, stated on the second day of the meeting in Kaduna on Thursday that the meeting aimed to enhance inter-sectoral collaboration to address Malnutrition, which affects a high number of children in Jigawa, Kano, and Katsina.
He stated that chronic Malnutrition leads to stunted growth and irreversible brain development issues, emphasising the need for collective action to prevent stunting, especially in young children.
Singh stressed that well-nourished children have better opportunities to grow into productive citizens, contributing to the country’s economic growth.
He lamented that the North region, Jigawa inclusive, has one of the worst nutritional indicators, with stunting affecting many children, making prevention a critical priority.
He, therefore, said the meeting sought to define roles for stakeholders, including LGA chairpersons, to improve nutrition outcomes for children and women in Jigawa.
The Chairman of Dutse LGA, Dr Sibu Abdullahi, commended Gov. Umar Namadi’s dedication to health, adding that health was the second priority in Jigawa.
Abdullahi, who doubles as the state’s chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) Chairman, highlighted the community-based nutrition package and Masaki programme.
Under it, local governments contribute N250,000, which was later upgraded to N500,000 monthly.
Abdulahi disclosed that plans had been concluded to dedicate one per cent of the local government’s budget to nutrition in 2026 and subsequent years.
Speaking, Hajiya Hadiza Abdulwahab, the Jigawa Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, called for support for women to enable exclusive breastfeeding, emphasising its critical role in reducing infant malnutrition and mortality rates.