In a decisive move to address Nigeria’s escalating malnutrition crisis, the National Economic Council (NEC) officially launched the Nutrition 774 Initiative on Thursday during its 148th meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The ambitious program, spearheaded by Vice President Kashim Shettima, aims to deliver targeted nutrition interventions across all 774 local government areas (LGAs) in the country, ensuring that every Nigerian mother and child has access to lifesaving support.
The initiative comes at a critical juncture for Nigeria, where malnutrition continues to undermine public health and national development. Vice President Shettima, who chairs the NEC, underscored the urgency of the situation, describing malnutrition as a “silent crisis” that transcends the health sector and threatens the nation’s future. “The consequences of malnutrition form the foundation of calamities that limit productivity, learning, and growth,” Shettima told governors, ministers, local government chairmen, and stakeholders present at the launch. “It’s time for urgent and decisive action.”
Shettima highlighted stark statistics that illuminate the scale of the challenge: approximately 40% of Nigerian children under five suffer from stunting, 8% from wasting, and 27% from underweight conditions. “These are not just numbers—they represent the faces of children whose futures are at risk before their lives even begin,” he said. The Nutrition 774 Initiative, he stressed, marks a turning point in the fight against this preventable scourge, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to prioritize nutrition as a cornerstone of national progress.
The Nutrition 774 Initiative is designed as a government-led, multi-sectoral effort to enhance coordination, improve financing, and foster accountability. It integrates interventions across key sectors—including health, agriculture, education, social protection, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH)—to address the root causes of malnutrition. “This is the first intervention of its kind to combat malnutrition on such a broad scale,” Shettima noted. “Through this initiative, every mother and child, regardless of location, will have access to tailored, lifesaving nutrition support.”
A key feature of the program is its grassroots focus, empowering local governments and communities to take ownership of nutrition outcomes. At the launch, federal, state, and local government officials signed a compact pledging to collaborate closely to ensure effective implementation. Governor AbdulRazaq Abdulrahman of Kwara State, speaking on behalf of the 36 state governors, affirmed their commitment, while representatives from the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) echoed this resolve.
The initiative has already garnered significant backing. Endorsed by the NEC last September during its 144th meeting, Nutrition 774 has been elevated to a national priority within the Tinubu administration’s development agenda. Development partners, including the World Bank, UNICEF, and USAID, have praised its community-driven approach and pledged technical and financial support. The establishment of a House Committee on Food and Nutrition at both federal and state levels further signals sustained political will to tackle the issue.
Shettima framed the initiative as both an invitation and a pledge. “This is an invitation to all stakeholders—our governors, ministers, local government chairmen, development partners, and the private sector—to take action,” he said. “It is also a promise to the people of Nigeria that we will not stand by while our children suffer. A well-nourished population is a premium insurance for our future.”
The launch preceded a closed-door NEC session, where governors and stakeholders deliberated on broader economic policies and national development strategies. As Nigeria prepares to roll out Nutrition 774 in the coming months, the initiative promises to deliver high-impact solutions—such as food fortification, maternal and child nutrition programs, and improved access to nutritious diets—aimed at reversing the country’s troubling nutrition indicators.
With collaboration at its core, Nutrition 774 represents a bold step toward a healthier, more prosperous Nigeria, ensuring that no child or community is left behind in the fight against malnutrition.
