Child malnutrition in Nigeria
Nigeria is currently facing a severe child malnutrition crisis that demands both immediate and sustained attention from the government and all relevant stakeholders. Every day, about 2,400 Nigerian children under the age of five lose their lives due to malnutrition, with one million children dying annually before reaching their fifth birthday as a result of preventable illnesses. This staggering number translates to a heartbreaking loss of 100 children every hour. These alarming statistics point to the urgent need for comprehensive and effective interventions to address this crisis.
The 2023 Global Hunger Index paints a grim picture, showing that the percentage of malnourished children in Nigeria has risen significantly from 9.3 percent to 15.9 percent. More than 12 million Nigerian children are stunted, and three million are experiencing rapid weight loss, placing them at further risk of severe health complications. This crisis is especially acute in northern Nigeria, where, according to the Federal Government, 4.4 million children in the North-East and North-West regions are battling severe malnutrition. This alarming revelation was made by Ladidi Bako-Aiyebusi, the Director of Nutrition in the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, during a nutrition meeting in Nasarawa State.
Additional reports further emphasize the gravity of this situation. In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), it was revealed that the rate of stunting stands at 21.2 percent, while underweight prevalence is 12.1 percent and wasting at 3 percent. Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) has also raised concerns, reporting a sharp increase in the admission of severely malnourished children in northern states such as Bauchi, Zamfara, Kano, Sokoto, and Borno. Unfortunately, efforts to mitigate these cases are hindered by a lack of sufficient humanitarian response, inadequate funding, and logistical challenges, further exacerbating the crisis.
The 2021 USAID Nutrition Profile on Nigeria revealed that rural areas bear the brunt of this malnutrition crisis, with 45 percent of children stunted, compared to 27 percent in urban regions. The children of the poorest households are three times more likely to suffer from stunting than those from wealthier families. Furthermore, a mother’s education level is closely tied to her child’s health, as 29 percent of children whose mothers lack formal education are stunted, while this figure drops to 14 percent for children whose mothers have attained secondary education or higher.
The implications of this crisis extend far beyond mere physical development. Malnourished children often experience impaired cognitive development and weakened immune systems, leaving them highly susceptible to diseases. On a broader scale, child malnutrition fuels the cycle of poverty, increases healthcare costs, reduces productivity, and contributes to preventable deaths across Nigeria.
The root causes of this complex issue are multifaceted, stemming from a combination of inadequate access to nutritious food, poor dietary habits, terrorism, insecurity, displacement, and low levels of education. Economic instability only worsens the situation, and the recent surge in food prices due to inflation has placed nutritious meals out of reach for many vulnerable households. A recent report revealed that 172 million Nigerians, or 78.7 percent of the population, cannot afford a healthy diet, according to the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2024.
To effectively combat this crisis, Nigeria must adopt a coordinated and comprehensive approach. This requires a robust, transparent, and seamless collaboration between the government, international organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and donors to implement far-reaching interventions. These efforts should include scaling up emergency food funding, diagnosing and treating malnourished children, and implementing education and awareness programs for parents and caregivers to address the root causes of malnutrition.
Long-term strategies should also be put in place, including the creation of systems to prevent corruption and ensuring the successful resuscitation of the school feeding program. This would not only improve children’s health and school enrolment rates but also help close the socioeconomic disparities that fuel malnutrition. The Nigerian government must recognize that the malnutrition crisis is not merely a health issue—it is a national emergency that demands immediate and comprehensive action.
If this crisis is not addressed with the urgency it warrants, the consequences will be felt for generations. As a nation blessed with abundant natural resources, Nigeria must not allow its most vulnerable citizens—its children—to suffer from a preventable condition like malnutrition. The future of millions of Nigerian children depends on the actions taken today to combat this critical issue. Failure to act now will result in severe long-term repercussions for the country’s health, economy, and development.
