Nigeria’s Vice President Kassim Shettima has announced the federal government’s comprehensive vision framework for a national nutrition program to address malnutrition and food insecurity in Nigeria.
The proposed program ‘Nutrition 774 Initiative’ aims to improve nutrition outcomes in all 774 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the country.
Speaking at a roundtable with development partners at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday, Shettima said the initiative is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s broader focus on food security and availability across Nigeria.
“The priority that His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has pursued on food availability goes hand in hand with our efforts to eradicate malnutrition.
“Our aspirations as a nation go beyond simply having an abundance of food in our barns and storehouses. We ensure that every household across Nigeria receives a preferred and prescribed diet essential to a healthy life. We can’t claim victory unless we’re confident we can get it,” the vice president said.
Recall that the 144th National Economic Council (NEC) in September approved the Nutrition 774 program as the primary platform to combat malnutrition within Nigerian communities.
The Council encouraged development partners to provide financial and technical support to support this effort.
Speaking at a roundtable with development partners on Tuesday, the Vice President recognized the important role of cooperation in addressing the country’s nutritional challenges and urged development partners to support the proposed initiatives. did.
“This vision must be owned by our development partners as much as it is owned by the government, because each of us is a stakeholder in the emergence of a healthy and stable Nigeria.” he said.
Vice President Shettima said the proposed Nutrition 774 initiative takes a grassroots-led approach, with local stakeholders working to improve nutrition in their communities and investing in local capacity through training of health workers and community leaders. He explained that he was given the authority to take on the role.
“The Nutrition 774 Initiative is a guarantee to all Nigerians, young and old, single and married, from North to South. I assure you that it is a mission that must be pursued with passion,” he said.
The Vice President further added that while Nigeria is dealing with recent floods and global inflationary pressures impacting food security, “our response is not only innovative but also directly addresses these challenges. “There must be,” he emphasized.
“Every naira invested in the nutrition of the nation will pay dividends many times over, not only in the health of the nation but also in the security and future of our country,” he added.
Mr. Shettima also emphasized the importance of oversight and stressed that local government councils, which have shown commitment, enthusiasm and passion in driving the process forward, must be encouraged.
