Taking Action on Maternal Nutrition in Nigeria

Last week was World Nutrition Day. It reminded us to boost our efforts to fight malnutrition in Nigeria. This fight needs good policies and quick action on proven nutrition programs. We need consistent funding from state and local governments.

Nigeria's National Development Plan (2021, 2025) highlights women's maternal health as key to national growth. The plan aims to cut maternal deaths from 512 to 300 per 100,000 live births by 2025. It also wants to reduce malnutrition among women of childbearing age. This goal supports Nigeria's promise to the Sustainable Development Goals and the global aim to lower maternal deaths to 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030.

But behind every number is a real person. A name. A story. I think about the pregnant women whose lives are at risk every day due to lack of nutrition and healthcare. I also think about their strength and the support from health workers and local communities that often go unmentioned.

To keep mothers alive, we need steady funding and access to lifesaving nutrition programs. One vital program is the multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS). These supplements help with iron, folate, and other nutrients. Without these, Nigeria's high maternal deaths will continue.

The 2023 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) shows that Nigeria still has 512 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.

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

These numbers are not just statistics. They show a growing emergency. We need to be honest about what still needs to be done while also recognizing the changes happening within our communities.

I feel hopeful because of Nigerian-led groups that are creating solutions in 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 major group working together to improve nutrition in Nigeria. This alliance has over 400 civil society groups, media, academics, and development partners like the Gates Foundation. CS-SUNN is pushing for better nutrition policies, more funding, and improved accountability.

Through its Partnership for Improving Nigeria Nutrition Systems (PINNS) project in states like Kaduna, Kano, Niger, Nasarawa, and Lagos, CS-SUNN has united state governments, lawmakers, traditional leaders, and policymakers to reform nutrition systems. This project has improved planning, budgeting, monitoring, and accountability systems, allowing real-time tracking of progress.

One big success has been reviving 24 inactive State Committees on Food and Nutrition. They have been realigned with the National Multisectoral Plan of Action, improving cooperation among government agencies that had stalled for years.

But just having better coordination won't fix nutrition problems alone. We need solid governance, reliable funding, and timely budget releases to make real progress.

A major challenge for nutrition programs in Nigeria is making sure budget promises turn into actual funding. Despite growing awareness of the need for MMS, many states still lack enough funds for procurement. This means many pregnant women are missing out on these essential supplements.

In the Ungwan Boro community in Kaduna, I met Martha Obiagwu, the Officer-in-Charge at a local health center in Sabon Tasha. She shared an unexpected change: Women were returning for services.

"We have noticed a great increase in the number of women accessing services at the facility. Many women in the community did not know about multiple micronutrient supplements before now. But now that they see their friends benefiting, 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 significant. Northern Nigeria has some of the highest rates of anemia during pregnancy. Most cases are linked to iron deficiency, worsened by poverty and food insecurity. Rebuilding trust in primary healthcare is how we can change those numbers.

Funding in Kaduna has also improved. Ramatu Musa Haruna, the Nutrition Officer, explained how CS-SUNN's work with UNICEF and the Gates Foundation has led to real government commitments. "All local government chairmen have agreed to contribute ₦20 million each to support the Child Nutrition Fund. The governor has also committed ₦500 million this year," she said. "This money will help keep supplying multiple micronutrient supplements and other needed items." Political will can act fast.

This political commitment is now visible in public budgets. Health budgets have grown a lot in recent years. In 2025, ₦170.01 billion was allocated for nutrition programs. This is a 33.7 percent increase from ₦127.24 billion in 2024 and a huge jump from ₦10.8 billion in 2021.

These are good signs.

But just having budgets doesn't save lives. One major issue is still making sure budget promises lead to real funding and action. Even with the increasing recognition of MMS, many states still have inadequate funds for buying them. This leaves many pregnant women without critical support.

Kaduna and other states show what can happen when political commitment meets proper funding and timely release of money. But these cases are still the exception, not the rule. To keep making progress, more states need to focus on nutrition and turn their promises into real actions.

We also can't ignore rising inflation. Budget increases might not cover the real scale of the crisis. This makes accountability and effective monitoring even more important. We need to keep investing in primary healthcare, especially in rural areas where women at risk rely on local health centers for survival and for their children's health.

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has called the nutrition crisis a "development emergency" and says urgent action is needed from all government levels.

The 2023 NDHS shows that 58 percent of women of childbearing age in Nigeria are anemic. It also shows 61 percent of pregnant women suffer from anemia. The differences between regions are significant. Anemia among pregnant women is 55.2 percent in the South-West and 71.1 percent in the South-East, while iron deficiency is a clear problem in the North.

The progress made so far is fragile. It could easily reverse without stronger commitment, ongoing investment, and consistent funding for high-impact nutrition programs like MMS. Global data shows that every dollar spent on nutrition can bring back between US$16 and US$27 in better health and economic results.

The progress in some states is real. But it belongs to the communities, health workers, civil society groups, and government officials who made it happen. Development partners like the Gates Foundation can help, but the real change is being created by Nigerians.

The progress made so far is fragile. It could easily reverse without stronger commitment and ongoing funding for high-impact nutrition programs like MMS. Global evidence suggests that every dollar invested in nutrition can yield returns of US$16 to US$27 through better health and economic outcomes.

All levels of government must protect and build on the achievements gained through years of work with communities, civil society groups, and development partners.

Funding nutrition programs is essential for sustainability. Policies and reforms are good first steps, but they need to be backed by enough funding, timely release of money, and strong accountability.

The question is not whether Nigeria knows what works. The evidence is clear. The real question is whether proven programs like MMS will get the steady funding needed to reach every woman who needs them.

Kaduna State shows what can happen when political will is paired with proper financing and timely funding for nutrition programs like MMS. Their story should not be the exception.

On World Nutrition Day, we were reminded to boost our efforts against malnutrition in Nigeria. We need good policies and quick action on proven nutrition programs with steady funding from state and local governments.

We must keep nutrition and MMS funding on the agenda of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and other decision-making platforms.

Nigeria's maternal health crisis needs urgent attention, coordination, and accountability. Behind every number is a woman fighting to survive childbirth and a child needing a healthy start.

Kaduna shows us that progress is possible. Now, we need to ensure all states fulfill their commitments so that lifesaving nutrition programs reach the women and children who need them most.