Governors plan nutrition intervention fund to support all 774 local government areas

Nigerian governors plan to establish a National Nutrition Intervention Fund to support the Nutrition 774 Initiative across the country’s local government areas.

The proposed fund would encourage state governments to invest more in nutrition, reward effective implementation and support measurable improvements. The commitment followed a three-day nutrition leadership exchange in Ethiopia by a Nigerian delegation led by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Premium Times reported a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by Shettima’s media aide, Stanley Nkwocha. It quoted Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal announcing the plan while presenting the Nigeria Governors’ Forum’s Addis Ababa commitment on nutrition.

Lawal said governors had resolved to launch a nationwide nutrition emergency. They pledged to strengthen domestic financing and grassroots accountability, and to establish a common framework for nutrition planning and budgeting.

He said the exchange drew lessons from Ethiopia’s nutrition programmes, including its Seqota Declaration, that could help strengthen Nigeria’s existing initiative.

Lawal recalled that the three tiers of government signed a Nutrition Compact on February 20, 2025. The governors’ forum signed on behalf of the 36 states, while the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria signed for the 774 local governments.

The Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Muyi Aina, said the federal team would begin with targeted interventions in two states selected according to their stunting burden.

Under that plan, federal agencies and participating state governments would identify priorities, assign responsibilities and cost the interventions. Aina said they would work towards joint financing and measurable indicators to track implementation.

Health Minister Muhammad Pate said progress on the commitments would be reported to the vice president through the National Council on Nutrition.

Source: Premium Times