By Ogenyi Ogenyi, Uyo
Nigeria loses at least $2.5 billion annually to malnutrition, with the economic burden linked to reduced productivity, healthcare costs and lost human potential, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, Dr Chike Okafor, has said. Okafor made the statement while delivering a keynote address at a three-day National Strategic Policy Dialogue in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, organised by Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN).
The lawmaker, who cited a World Bank report, said malnutrition should be treated as an economic issue rather than solely as a social welfare concern. He said the estimated losses represented about 12 per cent of Nigeria’s GDP.According to Okafor, 32 per cent of children under five in Nigeria are stunted, while 7.1 per cent are wasted and 58 per cent of women of reproductive age are anaemic.
He said investment in nutrition could yield significant economic returns, adding that every dollar invested in nutrition could generate $16 in economic benefits. Okafor expressed concern that less than 0.5 per cent of the federal budget was allocated to nutrition-specific interventions, compared with an estimated 1.5 per cent required to meet global targets.
He urged state lawmakers to protect nutrition budget lines, ensure timely release of approved funds and strengthen oversight of relevant government agencies.The dialogue brought together legislators and stakeholders from 17 states to discuss domestic financing, the proposed Child Nutrition Fund, paid maternity leave policies and stronger accountability for nutrition programmes.
