Taking Action for Better Maternal Nutrition in Nigeria

By Chioma Eze· 3 Jun 2026(updated 1h ago)· 8 min read· 👁 0 views

Last week, on World Nutrition Day, we were reminded to step up our efforts to fight malnutrition in Nigeria. This effort requires not just good policies but also real action through proven nutrition programs with ongoing funding from state and local governments.

Nigeria's National Development Plan (2021, 2025) highlights protecting women's maternal health as a key part of national growth. The plan aims to cut maternal deaths from 512 to 300 per 100,000 live births by 2025. It also wants to tackle malnutrition among women of childbearing age. This goal aligns with Nigeria's commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the global "Zero Preventable Maternal Deaths" initiative, aiming to bring maternal deaths down to 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030.

But behind each number is a person. A name. A story. When I think about this crisis, I picture pregnant women whose lives are at risk every day due to lack of proper nutrition and healthcare. I also think about the strength of health workers and their communities, whose efforts rarely get mentioned in policy talks.

The fight to keep mothers safe relies on consistent funding and access to lifesaving nutrition help, like multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS). These supplements help fix deficiencies in iron, folate, and other important nutrients. These shortages continue to drive Nigeria's high rate of maternal deaths.

According to the 2023 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), Nigeria still sees 512 maternal deaths for every 100,000 live births.

The situation for children is just as dire. Nigeria is second only to India in the number of stunted children worldwide. UNICEF, WHO, and the World Bank estimate that about 32, 34 percent of Nigerian kids under five, around 14 million children, are stunted. About two million children suffer from severe acute malnutrition.

These are not just numbers. They reflect a growing crisis that requires us to be honest about what still needs to be done while recognizing the positive changes happening from within.

What gives me hope is the work of local coalitions in Nigeria creating solutions within their communities. I saw this firsthand during my recent visit to Kaduna State.

The Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) is a key alliance that strengthens coordination, advocacy, and accountability in Nigeria's nutrition sector. Made up of over 400 civil society groups, media organizations, academics, and development partners like the Gates Foundation, CS-SUNN has been pushing for better nutrition policies, more funding, and improved accountability at national and state levels.

Through its Partnership for Improving Nigeria Nutrition Systems (PINNS) project in Kaduna, Kano, Niger, Nasarawa, and Lagos states, CS-SUNN has united state governments, lawmakers, traditional rulers, religious leaders, and policymakers to improve nutrition outcomes. The initiative has boosted planning and monitoring systems, allowing real-time tracking of progress.

One big win is reviving 24 previously inactive State Committees on Food and Nutrition. These committees have been realigned with the National Multisectoral Plan of Action, improving coordination among government agencies that had stalled for years.

But stronger coordination alone won't solve nutrition problems. Governance must be supported by steady funding, timely budget releases, and ongoing implementation to achieve real progress.

One of the biggest challenges for nutrition programs in Nigeria is making sure budget promises turn into actual funding and action. Even with a growing understanding of the need for MMS, funding for these supplements is still lacking or uncertain in many states. This means many pregnant women do not get the help they need.

In the Ungwan Boro community in Kaduna State, I met Martha Obiagwu, the Officer-in-Charge at a local health center in Sabon Tasha. She described a change she didn't expect: women were returning.

"We have noticed a great increase in the number of women accessing services at the facility because many women in the community did not know about multiple micronutrient supplements before now. But now that they see their friends or neighbors benefiting from it, they come. Even those who attend private clinics sometimes still come here specifically to request MMS. During Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Week, the demand becomes even higher," Obiagwu said.

This is very important. Northern Nigeria has some of the highest rates of anemia in pregnancy, most cases linked to iron deficiency, worsened by poverty and food insecurity. Rebuilding trust in primary healthcare, one woman at a time, is how we can change these numbers.

The funding situation in Kaduna has also improved. Ramatu Musa Haruna, the state Nutrition Officer, shared how CS-SUNN, along with UNICEF and the Gates Foundation, has turned advocacy into real government commitments. "All local government chairmen have agreed to contribute ₦20 million each to support the Child Nutrition Fund, alongside the governor's commitment of ₦500 million this year," she said. "These funds will help maintain the purchase of multiple micronutrient supplements and other essential items." Political will can make a difference quickly.

That political commitment is showing up in public budgets. Health budgets have grown significantly in recent years. In 2025, ₦170.01 billion was set aside for nutrition programs, a 33.7 percent increase from ₦127.24 billion in 2024 and a big jump from ₦10.8 billion in 2021.

These are good signs.

But just putting money in the budget won't save lives. One big problem for nutrition programs in Nigeria now is making sure budget commitments lead to actual funding and action. Even though there is a growing understanding of the need for MMS, funding for buying these supplements remains low or uncertain in many states. This means many pregnant women do not get the support they need.

The experiences of Kaduna and other states show what can happen when political will is combined with proper funding and timely release of money. But these cases are still exceptions, not the rule. To keep making progress, more states need to prioritize nutrition and turn their promises into action.

The rising inflation also cannot be ignored. In real terms, budget increases may not fully match the scale of the crisis. This makes accountability, transparency, and effective monitoring more important than ever, along with continued investment in primary healthcare, especially in rural areas where women most in need rely on local health facilities for their survival and that of their children.

Nigeria's Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has not held back, calling the nutrition crisis "a development emergency" and stressing that urgent action is needed from all levels of government.

The 2023 NDHS shows that 58 percent of women of childbearing age in Nigeria are anemic, while 61 percent of pregnant women suffer from anemia. There are still big differences between regions, with anemia among pregnant women at 55.2 percent in the South-West and 71.1 percent in the South-East, while iron deficiency is a major issue across the North.

The progress made so far is fragile and could easily be undone without stronger commitment, ongoing investment, and reliable funding for key nutrition programs like MMS. Global evidence shows that every dollar spent on nutrition can bring back between US$16 and US$27 through better health, productivity, and economic outcomes.

The progress seen in some states is real. But it belongs, above all, to the communities, health workers, civil society organizations, and government officials who made it happen. Development partners like the Gates Foundation can help, but the real change is coming from Nigerians.

Government at all levels must now protect and build on the progress made through years of working with communities, civil society organizations, and development partners.

The commitment to funding nutrition programs at all levels is a vital support for sustainability. Policies and reforms are important first steps, but they need to be backed by adequate funding, timely release of money, and strong accountability systems.

The issue is no longer whether Nigeria knows what works. The evidence is clear. The question is whether proven solutions like MMS will get the ongoing funding needed to reach every woman who needs them.

Kaduna State has shown what is possible when political will matches funding and timely release of money for nutrition programs, including MMS. Their experience should be the standard, not the exception.

Ongoing funding for nutrition and MMS should be a priority at the Nigeria Governors' Forum and across federal and state decision-making platforms.

Nigeria's maternal health crisis needs urgent action, coordination, and accountability. Behind every number is a woman fighting to survive childbirth and a child struggling for a healthy start in life.

What Kaduna shows is that progress is possible. The challenge now is making sure every state keeps its promises so that lifesaving nutrition programs reach the women and children who need them most.

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