World Bank: Malnutrition Costs Nigeria $2.5 Billion Annually

A Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Nutrition and Food Security stated that malnutrition costs Nigeria more than oil pipeline vandalism and power outages combined. Citing the World Bank, the chairman reported that Nigeria loses $2.5 billion annually to malnutrition, which accounts for 12% of the country's GDP due to reduced productivity, healthcare costs, and lost potential. The chairman also noted that 32% of children under 5 are stunted, 7.1% are wasted, and 58% of women of reproductive age are anaemic.

The findings frame nutrition as an economic issue rather than solely a social welfare concern. The chairman argued that investing in nutrition yields $16 in economic returns for every $1 invested. This highlights a massive economic drain on Nigeria's productivity and growth.