Nigeria plans national nutrition intervention amid high stunting rates

Vice President Kashim Shettima cited that 40% of Nigerian children under five are stunted during the Nigeria-Ethiopia Nutrition Leadership Exchange. He noted the estimated economic cost of this issue to the country is $56 billion annually. Governors, speaking through Dauda Lawal, pledged to declare nutrition a national emergency and create a National Nutrition Intervention Fund. The federal government plans to start targeted interventions in two high-stunting states before expanding the program.

The high stunting rate is cited as having an estimated annual economic cost of $56 billion to Nigeria. The planned creation of a National Nutrition Intervention Fund and targeted interventions by the federal government represents a major national fiscal and regulatory response to the health crisis. This approach involves borrowing from Ethiopia's Seqota Declaration model.