Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, has introduced the federal government’s comprehensive plan to tackle malnutrition and food insecurity with the launch of the “Nutrition 774 Initiative.” The program aims to improve nutritional outcomes across all 774 local government areas (LGAs) in the country.
Speaking at a roundtable with development partners at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday, Shettima emphasized that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s broader vision for food security and availability across Nigeria.
“The priority with which President Bola Tinubu has pursued food availability has gone hand-in-hand with our commitment to eradicating malnutrition. Our goal is not just to have food in abundance, but to ensure that every household in Nigeria has access to the necessary and healthy diets for a good life,” Shettima said.
The “Nutrition 774 Initiative” was previously endorsed by the National Economic Council (NEC) in its 144th meeting in September as the central platform to combat malnutrition within Nigerian communities. The NEC urged development partners to provide financial and technical support for the program.
During the roundtable, Shettima highlighted the importance of collaboration, encouraging development partners to co-own the initiative alongside the Nigerian government.
“This initiative must be embraced by development partners as much as by the government. We all share the responsibility of building a healthy and stable Nigeria,” Shettima added.
The initiative takes a grassroots-driven approach, empowering local communities by training health workers and community leaders to implement and monitor nutritional improvements. Shettima noted that investing in nutrition yields far-reaching benefits, including better national security and a brighter future for all Nigerians.
As Nigeria continues to face challenges such as floods and global inflation, the Vice President stressed that the country’s response must be both innovative and targeted. He also called for incentive programs for local governments that demonstrate exceptional commitment to the initiative’s goals.
