By George George Idowu
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security Sen. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi has outlined eight interrelated priority areas to address the nation’s nutritional needs.
These areas include enhancing value chains, diversifying household production and consumption, improving access to micronutrient-rich foods, and enhancing food safety along the value chain.
He said plans are also in place to build resilience and social protection networks for vulnerable groups, promote nutrition research, and improve the agriculture sector’s capacity to tackle food security and nutrition issues.
This was disclosed on Tuesday in Abuja following the council meeting of the National Council on Nutrition (NCN).
Vice President Kashim Shettima, who also chairs the Council, announced the new initiatives to tackle malnutrition and food insecurity across the country.
The primary goal of these measures is to enhance the nutritional status of all Nigerians.
Shettima emphasized the need for active and proactive participation from all relevant entities, including ministries, departments, agencies, development partners, and other stakeholders.
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He highlighted that this commitment aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s dedication to improving the nutritional well-being of Nigerians.
One significant measure is the creation of a national nutrition dashboard, which will be managed by the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning and accessible via the NCN website.
This dashboard aims to enhance oversight and coordination of nutrition-related efforts nationwide.
Acknowledging the urgent food crisis, Shettima stated that President Tinubu’s administration is addressing the root causes to develop more resilient and sustainable food systems in Nigeria.
He praised the contributions of all stakeholders and reaffirmed the federal government’s willingness to collaborate for the nation’s benefit.
Minister of Budget and Economic Planning Abubakar Atiku Bagudu emphasized the administration’s commitment to prioritizing nutrition as a key aspect of national development.
He noted that the initiative allows for increased efforts to bolster food and nutrition security in the country.
The meeting, which included updates on Nigeria’s current nutritional status, focused on actionable recommendations and improving existing nutrition programs.
