A recent report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has highlighted severe child food poverty in Nigeria, with 32 percent of children affected. Pediatricians and nutritionists warn that this situation poses a heightened risk of chronic diseases and stunted growth for many children in the country in the coming months and years.
The report indicates that 65 percent of the 181 million children facing food poverty globally are from Nigeria. Although this figure is an improvement from the 45 percent reported in 2012, it still underscores a critical issue. Nigeria holds the second-highest burden of stunted children globally, with 12 million out of 35 million children under five experiencing stunting due to malnutrition.
UNICEF defines child food poverty as the inability of children to access and consume nutritious and diverse diets, particularly in early childhood. Insufficient dietary intake of essential nutrients impacts child survival, physical growth, and cognitive development, driving child undernutrition and increasing the prevalence of stunting.
The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that stunting, caused by chronic or recurrent malnutrition, results in children being too short for their age. This condition contributes to child mortality and impairs physical and cognitive development.
The National Bureau of Statistics reported a 32 percent rise in the cost of a healthy diet per adult in its May 2024 Cost of Healthy Diet report. The increase, attributed to rising inflation, saw the cost of a healthy diet rise from N786 in December 2023 to N1,041 per adult in May 2024. The report highlighted increased prices for starchy staples, legumes, nuts, seeds, and animal-source foods.
Nutritionists have raised alarms about the high rates of hunger in Nigeria, with many children under five going to school on empty stomachs. They warn that these children risk impaired cognitive development and poor academic performance, urging the government to address hunger urgently.
Professor Omotayo Adesiyun, a pediatrician, emphasized that children experiencing hunger and food poverty would not grow and develop properly, with potential complications for females during childbirth due to affected pelvic bones. She added that malnourished children are at higher risk of illnesses such as diarrhea and infections and are more likely to die from these illnesses.
Chief Dietitian Nutritionist Olufunmilola Ogunmiluyi noted that malnutrition is an underlying cause of 45 percent of all deaths of under-five children. She highlighted that about 4.4 million children aged 0–59 months in Nigeria’s Northwest and Northeast regions are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition from May 2023 to April 2024.
Ogunmiluyi warned that malnutrition leads to stunting, poor cognitive development, lower educational performance, and reduced productivity in adulthood, contributing to economic losses. She expressed concern that the current economic situation, leading to increased food prices, could reverse progress made in reducing malnutrition rates.
Registered Nutritionist Dietitian Charles Oguikpe highlighted the serious health implications of food poverty for Nigerian children, including micronutrient deficiencies, wasting, and increased risks of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension due to poor diets.
Oguikpe cited data showing that 11 million Nigerian children, or one in every three children under five, experience severe child food poverty. He warned that this situation could hinder future economic growth by reducing human capital development, labor productivity, and life expectancy.
As the Public Relations Officer of the Association of Nigerian Dietitians, Lagos State Chapter, Oguikpe called on the Federal Government to collaborate with healthcare professionals to ensure the safety and quality of children’s food. He also advocated for policies to enhance food sector security and empower healthcare professionals for increased effectiveness.
