Nigeria has declared a renewed commitment to tackling malnutrition nationwide with the introduction of the Nutrition 774 Initiative and the approval of a new long-term nutrition framework.

Speaking at the 15th meeting of the National Council on Nutrition (NCN), held virtually on Tuesday, Vice President Kashim Shettima said the initiative reflects government’s determination to address malnutrition in all 774 local government areas of the country.

He explained that the success of the programme will be measured not by policy announcements at the federal level, but by real improvements in households across communities nationwide.

Shettima stressed that every Nigerian child represents the purpose of the initiative, noting that behind every statistic is a child’s future, a family’s hope, and a nation’s responsibility to act decisively.

He also highlighted the importance of the proposed National Nutrition Bill, describing it as the legal foundation for sustaining nutrition reforms beyond political changes. According to him, the bill will ensure stable funding and clearly define responsibilities across federal, state, and local governments.

At the meeting, the council adopted the National Policy on Food and Nutrition (2026–2035) and directed the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning to forward it to the Federal Executive Council for final approval.

Shettima described the policy as a major milestone, calling it the most comprehensive nutrition framework Nigeria has developed. He noted that it is designed to be multi-sectoral, evidence-based, and focused on grassroots implementation.

The council also instructed all relevant ministries and agencies, as well as state governments and the FCT, to align their programmes and budgets with the new policy within set timelines.

In addition, state governments were directed to establish nutrition councils within three months to strengthen sub-national implementation, while a special private sector funding initiative for nutrition was also approved in collaboration with key partners.

Stakeholders at the meeting expressed strong support for the policy, describing it as a critical investment in Nigeria’s human capital and the future of its children.