The Nigerian Government has raised alarm over the nation’s worsening nutrition crisis, revealing that the country faces a “triple burden” of undernutrition, overnutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies.
Speaking on Thursday at a nutrition roundtable in Abuja themed “Fortifying Nigeria’s Future: Strengthening Nutrition Through Local Solutions”, the Permanent Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, warned that malnutrition is undermining national productivity and public health, especially among women and children.
Represented by Ladidi Bako-Aiyegbusi, Director of Nutrition at the ministry, Kachollom said millions of Nigerians suffer from “hidden hunger” due to diets dominated by calorie-heavy but nutrient-poor staples like maize, cassava, and rice.
“Nigeria faces a triple burden of malnutrition: undernutrition, overnutrition, and micronutrient deficiency,” she said. “Micronutrient gaps impair cognitive development, reduce productivity, and increase maternal and child mortality.”
According to the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, stunting affects 40% of children aged six to 59 months, while 8% suffer wasting and 27% are underweight. The 2021 National Food Consumption and Micronutrient Survey further shows widespread deficiencies, with one in three children lacking vitamin A, over one in three deficient in zinc, and more than 20% suffering from iron deficiency.
Food Fortification Efforts
Kachollom highlighted that since 1993, the government has adopted Large-Scale Food Fortification (LSFF) to tackle micronutrient deficiencies by adding essential vitamins and minerals to everyday foods. Achievements include 95% universal salt iodization and satisfactory fortification of wheat flour, sugar, and vegetable oil.
However, compliance remains inconsistent, especially among Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), due to weak enforcement, low awareness, and limited access to affordable premixes. She added that heavy reliance on imported premix raw materials inflates costs and exposes the country to currency volatility and supply chain disruptions.
To address these challenges, the government is repositioning LSFF with measures such as:
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Promoting fortified branded edible oils
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Scaling up rice fortification
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Introducing fortified bouillon cubes enriched with iron, zinc, folic acid, and vitamin B12
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Engaging the private sector and premix distributors
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Deploying digital traceability platforms to ensure fortified foods meet standards
Call for Local Solutions
In her remarks, Managing Director of Nigeria Health Watch, Vivianne Ihekweazu, stressed that tackling malnutrition requires homegrown strategies.
“Malnutrition in Nigeria is not just about insufficient calories but also hidden hunger caused by micronutrient deficiencies,” she said. “Food fortification is one of the most proven, cost-effective solutions, but we need stronger local capacity and better compliance with standards.”
She urged investment in domestic premix production, support for MSMEs, and stronger regulatory oversight to ensure fortified foods reach consumers effectively.
Experts at the roundtable, including nutritionists, regulators, private sector players, and NGOs, called for a multi-sectoral approach to address the crisis, warning that without urgent action, Nigeria risks losing a generation to poor nutrition and impaired productivity.
