Governors Plan National Nutrition Fund to Support All 774 LGAs

 

By Atlantic Reports

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has committed to establishing a National Nutrition Intervention Fund to support efforts against malnutrition across the country’s 774 local government areas.

The proposed fund would back the Nutrition 774 Initiative by encouraging domestic investment, supporting state leadership and rewarding effective implementation, according to a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to Vice-President Kashim Shettima on Media and Communications.

Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal announced the commitment in Ethiopia while presenting the NGF-Addis Ababa Commitment on Nutrition.

The announcement followed a three-day Nigeria-Ethiopia Nutrition Leadership Exchange, during which a Nigerian delegation led by Shettima examined Ethiopia’s approach to nutrition delivery, including its Seqota Declaration.

Governors Pledge Financing and Accountability

Lawal said governors of the 36 states had resolved to launch a nationwide nutrition emergency response, strengthen domestic financing and improve accountability at the grassroots.

He said they also committed to a unified framework for nutrition planning and budgeting, with stronger coordination across sectors and levels of government.

According to Lawal, the exchange demonstrated the importance of sustained political leadership and local ownership in turning nutrition policies into results.

“We are encouraged that Nigeria’s N774 Initiative already embodies many of the principles we have seen here in Ethiopia,” he said.

“This leadership exchange has, however, provided important practical lessons on how these principles can be further strengthened and translated into results.”

The statement did not specify the proposed fund’s size, contribution arrangements, disbursement criteria or commencement date. Its establishment and financing remain commitments rather than funds already available for implementation.

Lawal also recalled the Nutrition Compact signed on 20 February 2025, which he said established a shared commitment across the three tiers of government to tackle malnutrition.

According to him, the NGF chairman signed on behalf of the states, while the President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria signed for the 774 local governments.

Federal Team Proposes Two-State Intervention

The Chief Executive Officer of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Muyi Aina, said federal agencies would begin with targeted nutrition interventions in two states.

Speaking on behalf of the federal team, Aina said the states would be selected according to their stunting burden. Neither state was named in the statement.

He said the approach would involve setting clear objectives, identifying priorities across sectors and assigning responsibilities to federal, state and local authorities.

The intervention plan would be costed, with participating governments working towards joint financing and measurable indicators to assess delivery.

“We will track very rigorously progress in the execution of the plan,” he said.

Aina identified leadership, coordination, evidence-based prioritisation and disciplined execution as lessons from Ethiopia’s agricultural, early childhood development and data-driven programmes.

Progress to Be Reported Through Nutrition Council

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, said the Federal Government would work with states to convert the exchange commitments into practical interventions.

He called for a clear implementation roadmap, focused sectoral action, performance measures and accountability. Progress, he said, would be reported to the Vice-President through the National Council on Nutrition.

Pate said collaboration among governments, communities and development partners would be essential to sustained results, adding that Nigeria could adapt Ethiopia’s experience to its own circumstances.

Ethiopia’s Minister of Health, Dr Mekdes Daba, welcomed Nigeria’s commitment and described the exchange as an example of African countries learning from one another.

The next steps will be to establish and finance the proposed fund, identify the two initial states and publish implementation targets. Those decisions will determine how the commitments translate into nutrition support for communities.

Atlantic Reports: Voices. People. Facts.