Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, has raised alarm over the high rate of child malnutrition in Nigeria, revealing that one in three children under five is stunted.
AbdulRazaq, who also chairs the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), spoke on Thursday in Abuja at the inauguration of the National Community Food Bank and Nutrition Programme, aimed at tackling food insecurity among vulnerable populations.
He described child malnutrition as a major public health and development concern, warning that prolonged undernutrition could undermine human capital development and slow Nigeria’s long-term economic growth.
“Nigeria continues to carry one of the highest burdens of child malnutrition globally. One-third of children under five are stunted, pointing to chronic undernutrition and poor diet quality,” he said.
The governor emphasized that malnutrition is more than a health issue, noting its far-reaching effects on productivity, education, and national stability.
“Food security is central to public health, economic productivity, social stability, and human dignity,” he added.
AbdulRazaq commended the National Community Food Bank and Nutrition Programme as a practical and compassionate response to rising hunger and limited access to nutritious food, especially among low-income households.
He explained that the programme targets pregnant women, lactating mothers, and children under six—the most vulnerable groups—with beneficiaries identified through more than 30,000 primary healthcare centres nationwide and enrolled digitally.
“Beneficiaries will receive food vouchers tailored to their nutritional needs, redeemable at designated community food banks in local government areas, ensuring equitable access and support for the most at-risk populations.”
The governor noted that the programme will cover all 774 Local Government Areas, with a strong emphasis on transparency, accountability, and community ownership to ensure sustainability and effective delivery.
He assured that state governments, under the NGF, will collaborate closely with the Federal Government and development partners, with subnational counterpart funding complementing federal allocations to strengthen implementation.
“We stand ready to work with the Federal Government, the Office of the First Lady, and all stakeholders to ensure this initiative succeeds,” he said, stressing the importance of multi-level cooperation.
AbdulRazaq highlighted the role of data-driven governance, noting that the NGF Nutrition Scorecard helps track state-level performance, improve accountability, and enhance nutrition outcomes across Nigeria.
In his remarks, Sa’ad Abubakar III, emphasized that lasting solutions must go beyond charity, incorporating structured programmes that address the root causes of hunger sustainably.
He said the initiative integrates targeted school nutrition programmes, community-based support systems, and partnerships with government, the private sector, and civil society organizations to tackle both immediate and underlying drivers of food insecurity.
The Sultan pledged continued support for the initiative and called on Nigerians to play active roles in eradicating hunger and building a country where no citizen goes to bed hungry.
Also speaking, Muhammed Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, said the programme will leverage primary healthcare to efficiently reach the most vulnerable, integrating nutrition services for early detection and intervention.
Pate added that digital tools, community health workers, and inter-sectoral collaboration will enhance transparency, monitoring, and effective delivery of nutrition support nationwide.
Mr Ayo Sontirin, Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, outlined the Community Food Bank Trust Fund, highlighting its structure and objectives for nationwide implementation.
He emphasized that the fund will be governed by a Board of Trustees to ensure accountability, while supporting the procurement, aggregation, and distribution of locally sourced food to vulnerable communities.
He explained that the fund strengthens Nigeria’s agricultural value chain while addressing hunger, aiming to reach hundreds of thousands of households in the first phase, with plans for nationwide scale-up.
It was reported that stakeholders emphasized that the programme will not only address immediate hunger but also improve child growth, educational outcomes, workforce productivity, and overall national development.
The inauguration drew government officials, development partners, traditional rulers, private sector representatives, and civil society organizations, all pledging support for a coordinated, multi-sectoral, and sustainable response to food insecurity.
