The Borno State House of Assembly has inaugurated Local Government Area (LGA) Committees on Food and Nutrition as part of the National Nutrition 774 Initiative, a grassroots-focused effort aimed at improving child health and combating malnutrition across the state.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held Thursday in Maiduguri, the Chairman of the House Committee on Health and Nutrition, Maina Mustapha Garba, emphasized that the initiative targets enhanced nutrition outcomes with a strong focus on early childhood development and food security.
“The Nutrition 774 Initiative will implement high-impact, community-driven interventions in all 27 LGAs of Borno,” Garba said. He called on all stakeholders to promote transparency, coordination, and accountability to ensure the program’s success. Garba also reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to providing legislative support and oversight to secure the initiative’s long-term impact.
UNICEF’s Chief of Field Office in Maiduguri, Joseph Senissie, applauded the initiative, describing it as “a frontline defence against malnutrition.” He called for urgent action to address the state’s alarming levels of child malnutrition, warning that the issue represents not only a health crisis but also a significant economic challenge.
“Nigeria loses up to 11% of its GDP annually due to malnutrition-related problems,” Senissie noted, adding that this underscores the urgency for systemic change. He praised the leadership of the Borno State Government and urged local officials to ensure the effective functioning of the newly formed LGA committees.
Senissie also welcomed the joint move by Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States to ban the misuse of nutrition commodities, highlighting that meaningful progress will require both political commitment and sustained financial investment.
He encouraged support for the Child Nutrition Fund, acknowledging Borno’s ₦600,000 contribution as a commendable first step and urging other states and partners to follow suit.
