Nigeria’s efforts to reduce maternal mortality and malnutrition are increasingly dependent on sustained financing, improved accountability and wider access to proven nutrition interventions, particularly Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS), stakeholders have said.

Under the National Development Plan (2021–2025), Nigeria aims to reduce maternal mortality from 512 deaths to 300 deaths per 100,000 live births by 2025, while also addressing malnutrition among women of reproductive age. The target aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals and the global ambition of reducing maternal deaths to 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030.

Despite ongoing interventions, maternal mortality remains high. Data from the 2023 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) shows that the country still records 512 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. Child malnutrition also remains a major challenge, with an estimated 14 million Nigerian children under five suffering from stunting and about two million affected by severe acute malnutrition.

Experts note that deficiencies in essential nutrients such as iron and folate continue to contribute significantly to maternal deaths, making access to MMS a critical component of efforts to improve maternal and child health outcomes.

Amid the challenges, Nigerian-led initiatives are beginning to yield positive results. The Civil Society–Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), a coalition of more than 400 civil society groups, media organisations, academics, development partners and government stakeholders, has been working to strengthen nutrition governance, funding and accountability across the country.

Through its Partnership for Improving Nigeria Nutrition Systems (PINNS) project, implemented in Kaduna, Kano, Niger, Nasarawa and Lagos states, the organisation has supported reforms aimed at improving nutrition planning, budgeting and monitoring while fostering collaboration among governments, traditional institutions and development partners.

One of the coalition’s major achievements has been the revival of 24 previously inactive State Committees on Food and Nutrition, helping to improve coordination and implementation of nutrition programmes.

In Kaduna State, healthcare workers report growing awareness and demand for MMS among pregnant women. Martha Obiagwu, Officer-in-Charge of the Ungwan Boro Health Centre in Sabon Tasha, said more women are now accessing maternal health services after learning about the benefits of the supplements.

According to her, women who have experienced positive outcomes from MMS are encouraging others in their communities to seek similar support, leading to increased patronage of public health facilities.

Kaduna has also demonstrated stronger political commitment to nutrition financing. The state government recently secured commitments from local government chairmen to contribute N20 million each to the Child Nutrition Fund, while the governor pledged N500 million to support nutrition interventions, including the procurement of MMS.

At the national level, funding for nutrition programmes has increased significantly. The 2025 budget allocated N170.01 billion to nutrition-related interventions, representing a 33.7 per cent increase from the N127.24 billion allocated in 2024 and a substantial rise from N10.8 billion in 2021.

However, stakeholders caution that increased budget allocations alone will not solve the problem unless funds are released promptly and utilised effectively. In many states, inadequate financing and delayed implementation continue to limit access to essential nutrition commodities.

The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has described malnutrition as a development emergency, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated action across all levels of government.

The NDHS further reveals that 58 per cent of women of reproductive age and 61 per cent of pregnant women in Nigeria suffer from anaemia, with significant regional disparities across the country.

Stakeholders argue that while development partners continue to provide support, sustainable progress will depend largely on domestic financing, stronger accountability systems and political commitment from federal, state and local governments.

They emphasise that proven interventions such as MMS must remain a priority if Nigeria is to achieve its maternal health and nutrition goals.

As calls grow for nutrition financing to become a standing agenda item at meetings of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and other policy platforms, experts insist that the country already knows what works. The challenge, they say, is ensuring that lifesaving interventions receive the consistent funding and implementation needed to reach every woman and child who needs them.

The experience of Kaduna State demonstrates that meaningful progress is possible when political commitment is matched with adequate financing, timely budget releases and effective implementation. Stakeholders believe replicating such successes across the country could significantly reduce maternal mortality and improve nutrition outcomes for millions of Nigerians.