The National Council on Nutrition (NCN) has approved Nigeria's National Policy on Food and Nutrition (NPFN) for 2026-2035, paving the way for its submission to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for final ratification. The council also instructed all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to establish functional State Councils on Nutrition within three months to enhance sub-national ownership of nutrition initiatives.
These decisions were made during the council's 15th meeting, held virtually and chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima. The newly adopted policy is a comprehensive, multi-sectoral framework designed to guide the nation's nutrition and food security efforts over the next decade.
Human Impact Emphasized
Summarizing the meeting's outcomes, Vice President Shettima underscored the human impact of policy decisions, noting that behind every statistic discussed is a Nigerian child whose life chances are shaped by government actions or inactions. He stated, "We will be judged not by our deliberations but by our deliveries. Not by what we decided in April 2026, but by what mothers and children across the 774 local government areas experience by 2035."
Shettima described the NPFN as "the most consequential nutrition policy this country has produced," emphasizing that it is evidence-based, grassroots-driven, and spans multiple sectors. He stressed that the policy belongs to every ministry, state, local government, ward, and household represented in the council's work.
Implementation Directives
The council mandated the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning to transmit the policy to the FEC. It also directed all relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) to align their programs, plans, and budgets with the policy's provisions within 12 months. Additionally, states and the FCT were instructed to operationalize their multi-sectoral plans of action on food and nutrition within six to nine months.
Legislative Progress
Regarding legislation, the council approved a six-week extension for submitting a draft National Nutrition Bill but insisted that the proposed law must be transmitted to the National Assembly within eight weeks. The Vice President noted that the bill would provide the legal framework to safeguard nutrition financing and define responsibilities across federal, state, and local governments.
Strengthening Funding
To bolster funding, the council expanded the nutrition financing sub-committee to include the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, the Commissioners of Finance Forum, and the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON). This move aims to enhance coordination and resource mobilization for nutrition programs.
