Nigeria, despite being rich in natural resources, faces a significant challenge with malnutrition. In 2023, about 87 million of its 220 million people (39.5 percent) lived below the poverty line. This is partly due to the country's lack of technology to harness its resources, as well as issues such as bad governance, corruption, insecurity, and rising inflation. These factors have led to food shortages, with approximately 26.5 million people projected to suffer from acute hunger in 2024, a sharp increase from 18.6 million in late 2023.
One of the striking impacts on the economy is food shortage, and this continues to drive hunger with about 26.5 million people in the country projected to suffer from acute hunger in 2024. This is a sharp increase from the 18.6 million people in the last quarter of 2023 [4].
Malnutrition remains a pressing public health issue in Nigeria, with various forms affecting different vulnerable population groups. According to UNICEF, malnutrition contributes to nearly half of child deaths in the country.
The conflict situation in the North Eastern region of Nigeria is rampant and has displaced about 2.2 million people and left another 4.4 million food insecure in Yobe, Adamawa, and Borno states. Among these, about 3 million of the people are in Borno State, the heart of insurgency in Nigeria [5].
The northern part of Nigeria is prone to periodic droughts, where a good percentage of the country’s agricultural produce emanates. However, the central and southern parts are prone to periodic floods. Although, the government has embarked on various policies to curb the effects of these disasters, the adverse effects on agricultural output and the vulnerability of the rural populace are striking [6].
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Furthermore, the level of Insurgency in northern Nigeria has added pressure to a weak resource environment, worsened insecurity, deterred development, and heightened the nutrition and food insecurity of vulnerable children and women in the region [8].
Over 80 million Nigerians, which is about 40% of the total population, experience severe food insecurity with many facing chronic hunger and malnutrition [4]. The vulnerable groups include children, pregnant women, and the elderly. These categories are disproportionately affected with stunting and wasting, prevalent among young children [14]. However, the northern region of Nigeria experience higher rates of hunger and food insecurity when compared to the southern part of the country [15].
Some of the causes of hunger and food insecurity in Nigeria include drought, flood, and soil degradation. These disasters are caused by climate change which have disrupted agricultural production and food availability. Others include rising unemployment, conflicts, civil unrest and lack of access to markets and infrastructure. These limit the ability of Nigerians to afford and obtain nutritious foods. This can also be due to the negative impact of high imports, rising commodity prices and inflation, brought about by the war in Ukraine, and the recent flooding in several states of Nigeria [16].
The 2018/19 household survey revealed that the North-West and North-East regions of Nigeria suffer from the most acute levels of food insecurity, and this aligns with data from the recent Cadre Harmonise surveys (see Fig. 1). The survey also recorded large differences in the estimates of food insecurity between rural areas (52 percent) and urban (18 percent) [17].
The 2023-2024 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) reveals that four out of every ten (40%) Nigerian children under five suffer from stunting, an increase from 37% recorded in the NDHS 2018. Additionally, 8% suffer wasting (about one in every 10 children), compared to 7% in 2018. 22% of children under five were underweight according to that survey in 2018 with 25% now underweight in the 2023/2024 data.
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The 2022 National Food Consumption and Micronutrient Survey reveals that 55% of adolescent girls and women suffer from anaemia. Additionally, nearly half of Nigerian women of reproductive age do not meet the recommended diet of at least five of the ten essential food groups.
Rising inflation, conflicts in food-producing regions, and climate change have further limited food availability. The 2022 Cadre Harmonise analysis published by the government shows that 17 million Nigerians are suffering from acute food insecurity, and this is likely to increase to 25 million in lean season this year (FMARD, 2022).
According to UNICEF, 100 children under the age of 5 die of malnutrition every hour in Nigeria, This means that Nigeria loses about 2,450 children to malnutrition daily. This suggests that rising prices of basic food and consumables and general food insecurity may be taking the lives of children and toddlers every hour [35]. According to the Global Hunger Trend, the number of malnourished children is on the rise compared to previous years.
As of 2023, about 35.1 million children, in Nigeria, under the age of 5 suffered from malnourishment. Also, about 12.1 million children suffer from stunted growth, with about 3 million wasting from rapid and excessive weight loss, while about 23.4 million suffer from acute anemia. The average reduction in stunting is just 1.4% per year [37]. However, the impact of the WFP has caused other related cases of malnourishment such as child mortality, child stunting, and child wasting to decline continuously [37] (see Table 1).
An estimated two million children suffer from severe acute malnutrition (SAM) in Nigeria, yet only 20% are receiving treatment. New primary data collected in July 2025 by the Nigerian Red Cross (NRCS) shows 47% - 47.8% of children assessed are suffering from SAM in three local government areas (Zango and Kankara in Katsina state and Wamako in Sokoto state).
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The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has launched an emergency appeal, to support the Nigerian Red Cross (NRCS) in scaling up their response to malnutrition, aiming to reach one million people.
The malnutrition crisis in Nigeria is escalating and urgent action is needed to save lives. Without immediate intervention, 1.8 million children could die from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM).
According to new data collected by Nigeria Red Cross Society (NRCS), 84% of healthcare facilities in six northern states reported insufficient stocks of lifesaving ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF). At the same time, many key partners are having to withdraw or halt their programming due to funding cuts.
As a maternal and child health researcher, I have always argued that severe food poverty and malnutrition in Nigeria have significant and far-reaching implications for the health of affected children. With 37% of Nigerian children aged 6-59 months stunted (short for their age), 7% wasted (thin for their height), and 22% underweight (thin for their age), there is an urgent need for intervention.
Locations with highest food insecurity in Nigeria
Fig. 1. Locations with highest food insecurity in Nigeria.
Nigeria’s global hunger trend, 2023
Table 1 shows Nigeria’s global hunger trend in 2023:
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Malnourished children percentage | 16.0% |
| Children under 5 suffering from malnourishment | 35.1 million |
| Children suffering from stunted growth | 12.1 million |
| Children wasting from rapid weight loss | 3 million |
| Children suffering from acute anemia | 23.4 million |
| Average reduction in stunting per year | 1.4% |
There is a positive relationship between malnutrition and food inflation in Nigeria [38]. From Fig. 2, malnutrition (undernourishment) in children and adults increased simultaneously with the annual inflation rate between 2008 and 2023.
World Food Programme (WFP) in Nigeria
The World Food Programme (WFP) started operations in Nigeria in 2016, with the primary aim of providing lifesaving support to humans most in need while working with the government and other national stakeholders /actors to develop an enabling environment and sustainable solutions to help realize Nigeria’s goal of Zero Hunger by 2030 [9]. The WFP has been actively responding to various humanitarian crises and working to address the underlying causes of food insecurity.
The WFP is focusing its operations to reach out to 1.1 million vulnerable and indigent people, every month, in northern Nigeria. The beneficiaries may include displaced people living in host communities or Internally Displaced People (IDP) camps, as well as vulnerable members of host communities and people returning home after months of being displaced [12].
To achieve these objectives, the WFP implements a diverse range of initiatives, including emergency food distributions, school feeding programs, nutrition interventions, and agricultural development projects. The WFP in northern Nigeria is focused on improving the lives of vulnerable women and children through food assistance, nutrition resilience, capacity strengthening, logistics, and United Nations humanitarian air services [26]. These efforts are tailored to the unique needs and challenges faced by different regions and communities across Nigeria.
Since the start of operation in 2016, the WFP has delivered emergency food assistance to sustain support to the most affected children and women living in crisis-prone areas and experiencing worse food insecurity. In October, 2022, WFP provided about 978,059 people with nutrition-integrated unconditional food assistance through in-kind food and electronic vouchers distributed in Yobe, Adamawa, and Borno States. Of these numbers, 5,262 newly arrived as Internally Displaced Persons and persons with disabilities [27].
To provide malnutrition treatment, WFP has collaborated with cooperating partners such as the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) in 412 state-run primary health care centres across the northwest and northeast states of Nigeria. In 2023, WFP provided about 316 mt of specialized nutritious food to 182,080 children facing moderate acute malnutrition across Yobe, Sokoto, and Borno States [30].
WFP is currently working closely with the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) to drive the implementation and development of a roadmap to fortify local rice production in Nigeria [31]. The Promoting Rice Fortification in Nigeria (PriFN) project launched the pilot production of fortified rice in 2023, under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Health and hosted by the Government of Kebbi State.
As part of WFP’s broader efforts to strengthen the government’s capacity for transparent and sustainable social protection initiatives, WFP is working closely with the Sokoto state government to enhance and digitize the government’s information management infrastructure for cash-based transfers. This collaboration for knowledge transfer is aimed at removing the bottlenecks associated with funds transfers in agricultural finance [34].
Food industry: Bridging Nigeria's malnutrition gap
Government Initiatives
In compliance with the goals and vision of the WFP, the federal government of Nigeria had, over the years, declared an emergency on food insecurity, food pricing, and food sustainability in Nigeria, as a measure of combating malnutrition among vulnerable children in the country. For instance, in 2023 the federal government declared that all matters relating to the availability and affordability of food and water, as essential livelihood items, be included within the cognizance of the National Security Council (NSC) [4].
As an immediate and direct response to the food crisis in the country, several initiatives were deployed to reduce the inflationary trend, and uninterrupted supplies of affordable foods to low income earners in Nigeria. For instance, to check the rising prices of staple foods, the government devised a means to subsidize water and rail transportation for producers to utilize in transporting goods to their customers [13].
As part of the declaration, revenue generated from the removal of fuel subsidies were partly used to revamp the agricultural sector [18]. Besides, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is committed to funding the agricultural value chain. Concessionary capital was allocated to strategic sectors related to fertilizers, mechanization, chemicals, processing, seeds, equipment, labour, and feed with the target of ensuring adequate food supply in the country [19].
In collaboration with individual agricultural stakeholders, the federal government of Nigeria drafted a memorandum to release grains and fertilizers to households and farmers. The aim is to cushion the effects of the subsidy removal and form a synergy between the Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Agriculture, so as to ensure sufficient irrigation of farmlands and guarantee the uninterrupted production of food all through the year [20].
To support this strategy further, the 11 River Basins will ensure a continuous supply of water to encourage the planting of crops during the dry season. This will stem the scarcity and seasonal glut experienced in the country. The declaration created and supported a National Commodity Board (NCB) whose primary mandate was to maintain a strategic food reserve that will be used as a price stabilization mechanism for special grains and other food items, by reviewing and continuously assessing food prices in Nigeria [21].
Furthermore, the federal government declared an improved security network in the northeastern part of the country to protect farmers while on and off their farms. In his New Year address to the nation on January 1, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared about 500,000 hectares of land to increase the availability of arable land capable of boosting food production in the country [23].
TechnoServe's Approach to Combating Malnutrition
TechnoServe has been at the forefront of transforming food systems across Africa for over a decade. Their work spans various initiatives, all aimed at improving nutrition and livelihoods:
- Supporting Food Processors: Since 2010, TechnoServe has worked with nearly 600 food processors across Africa. In Nigeria, their efforts have increased the availability of vitamin A-fortified sugar and improved compliance levels for fortified edible oil and wheat flour.
- Large-Scale Food Fortification: Programs like SAPFF, TAAP, and IGNITE have been instrumental in increasing the production and sale of fortified foods.
- Reducing Food Loss and Waste: Initiatives like NutriSave and Horticurity aim to redirect surplus fruits and vegetables to low-income markets, reducing food waste and enhancing access to nutritious foods.
- Promoting Regenerative Agriculture: The Regenerate 30 initiative aims to benefit 30 million people, cut GHG emissions, and bring millions of acres of land under sustainable management.
- Empowering Youth and Women: Programs focus on creating economic opportunities, enhancing business skills, and strengthening leadership for these groups.
The Role of Civil Society: CS-SUNN
The Civil Society Scaling-Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) has been at the forefront of advocating for improved nutrition policies, increased funding, and better implementation of government programs. CS-SUNN actively pushes for increased investment in nutrition by engaging government agencies, legislative bodies, and donor organizations. The organization strengthens the capabilities of civil society organizations (CSOs) to effectively engage in nutrition advocacy and plays a key role in raising awareness and mobilizing action on nutrition issues across the country.
Solutions and Recommendations
Recognizing the urgent need to address malnutrition, the Nigerian government has introduced several commendable initiatives to improve nutrition outcomes.
Addressing severe food poverty and child malnutrition in Nigeria requires a comprehensive and multi-faceted approach by the government. This should include the following:
- Improving maternal and child nutrition: Ensure adequate nutrition for pregnant women; promote exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months; and introduce nutritious complementary foods at six months while continuing breastfeeding for two years and beyond.
- Release and Utilize Nutrition Funds Timely and Transparently: Transparent and timely disbursement of allocated funds is key to scaling up lifesaving nutrition interventions. It is also important to invest more in nutrition to match the rising burden of malnutrition.
- Extend Paid Maternity Leave to Six Months Nationwide: This is a critical step to protect the first 1,000 days of life-where nutrition has the highest impact.
- Scale Up Multisectoral Collaboration and Community Mobilization: Nutrition is not the work of one ministry-it requires all sectors, one plan, one platform.
- Expand Access to Maternal Micronutrients and Nutrition Services: Preventing anemia and undernutrition in women is critical to breaking intergenerational cycles of malnutrition and Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) is key.
The good news is that malnutrition is often preventable. Eat a Variety of Foods: Aim for a colorful plate. Include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats in your meals. Stay Hydrated: Drinking enough water is essential for overall health. Plan Your Meals: Take a few minutes during the week to plan your meals. This will help you make better decisions and reduce the need to turn to last-minute fast food. Listen to Your Body: Pay attention to your body's signals of hunger and fullness. Eat when you are hungry and stop when you are full. Get Assistance When Necessary: If you are having difficulty with your diet or you have issues that affect your nutrition, contact your healthcare provider early.
Malnutrition is treatable, but some of its consequences may persist. For example, long-term undernutrition can lead to issues like blindness from vitamin A deficiency, bone softening from vitamin D deficiency, and stunted growth in children from protein-energy undernutrition, may not be reversible despite rehabilitation efforts.
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