In a significant move to address hunger and malnutrition, Nigeria's 36 state governors have declared a nationwide nutrition emergency. This initiative aims to establish a powerful National Nutrition Intervention Fund to support the Nutrition 774 Initiative across every local government area in the country. The governors made this commitment during a session in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where they studied Ethiopia's experience in nutrition delivery.
The Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF) Addis Ababa Commitment on Nutrition was announced by Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, on Friday. This commitment follows a three-day Nigeria-Ethiopia Nutrition Leadership Exchange, where the Nigerian delegation, led by Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima, gained insights into Ethiopia's successful nutrition delivery, particularly through its Seqota Declaration. The exchange highlighted the importance of sustained political leadership and effective multisectoral coordination in tackling malnutrition.
The governors have pledged to strengthen domestic financing, deepen accountability at the grassroots, and institutionalize a unified framework for nutrition planning and budgeting. These measures are aimed at drawing lessons from Ethiopia's experience in addressing malnutrition. By adopting a unified approach to planning and budgeting, the governors hope to ensure a more effective and sustainable nutrition program.
According to Governor Lawal, the leadership exchange provided practical lessons on how to strengthen Nigeria's Nutrition 774 Initiative and deliver measurable results. Key lessons included the need for stronger coordination across sectors, bottom-up planning, predictable financing, and the use of data and scorecards to measure performance. The governors also recognized the importance of matching financing between the Federal Government and states to align priorities and encourage subnational investment.
The Nigeria Governors' Forum identified a matching financing mechanism between the Federal Government and states as crucial for aligning priorities and reinforcing shared accountability for nutrition outcomes. This mechanism is expected to encourage subnational investment and support the implementation of the Nutrition 774 Initiative. The governors also recalled that the three tiers of government signed the Nutrition Compact on February 20, 2025, to establish a common commitment to tackling malnutrition.
The Nutrition Compact, signed in the presence of Vice President Shettima, was a significant step towards addressing malnutrition in Nigeria. The compact was signed by the Chairman of the NGF on behalf of the 36 states, the President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) on behalf of the 774 local governments, and the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning on behalf of the Federal Government. This commitment is expected to be reinforced by adapting lessons from Ethiopia to Nigeria's circumstances.
The governors' commitment to tackling hunger and malnutrition is a significant step towards addressing the challenges facing Nigeria's nutrition sector. With a unified approach to planning and budgeting, stronger coordination across sectors, and predictable financing, the Nutrition 774 Initiative is expected to make a meaningful impact. The use of data and scorecards to measure performance will also ensure accountability and inform decision-making.
Key points
- Nigerian governors commit to launching a nationwide nutrition emergency to tackle hunger and malnutrition.
- A National Nutrition Intervention Fund will be established to support the Nutrition 774 Initiative across every local government area.
- The governors' commitment follows a leadership exchange with Ethiopia, which has made significant progress in addressing malnutrition.
