By The House of Representatives, along with 27 State Houses of Assembly and various ministers, have committed to addressing malnutrition and food insecurity in Nigeria through enhanced collaboration.
This resolution was made during the inauguration of the National Legislative Network on Nutrition and Food Security in Abuja on Monday, organized by the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security.
Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House, expressed concern about the increasing food insecurity in the country. He emphasized the urgent need to address nutrition and food security as representatives of the people. He stated, “We are taking concrete steps to restore hope to the suffering masses and enhance their well-being.”
Abbas promised to initiate strategic legislative processes to tackle these issues, highlighting the necessity of involving state assemblies to achieve better results. He acknowledged the people’s struggles with high food prices and declining nutrition.
Rep. Chike Okafor, Chairman of the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, stressed the constant threat malnutrition and food insecurity pose to Nigeria’s socio-economic development. He noted that worsening inflation has exacerbated these issues but expressed optimism due to the legislative push now being made to address them.
Mr. Debo Ogundoyin, Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly and Chairman of the Conference of Speakers, emphasized the importance of state involvement to understand and tackle food security and nutrition issues effectively. He pledged the commitment of state assemblies to work toward eradicating malnutrition and food insecurity.
Prof. Ali Pate, Minister of Health and Social Welfare, highlighted the need for a collective effort to address malnutrition, which is a core part of President Bola Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda. He pointed out that malnutrition affects children’s school performance and productivity, stressing the importance of a diverse diet.
Mr. Abubakar Bagudu, Minister of Budget and National Planning, called for increased investment from all three tiers of government to address nutrition and food security challenges, emphasizing the need for localized solutions and policy changes.
Minister of Agriculture, Abubakar Kyari, identified banditry, kidnapping, and policy issues as factors contributing to malnutrition and food crises. He underscored the importance of collaboration among ministries and agencies to ensure food and nutrition security and create awareness among all government arms and development partners.
