Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Tajudeen Abbas, has highlighted the growing crisis of malnutrition and food insecurity as significant threats to Nigeria’s economic stability, public health, and community resilience.
Speaking at the inauguration of the Local Organizing Committee for the National Assembly’s summit on nutrition and food security in Abuja, Abass emphasized the urgent need for legislative action on these issues, which are affecting the nation’s progress in health, education, and productivity.
Represented by Deputy Speaker Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, Abass described the current rates of malnutrition as among the highest in sub-Saharan Africa, impacting Nigerians across all age groups. He noted that malnutrition, especially among children, stunts physical and cognitive development, impacting long-term educational and economic potential and contributing to broader societal challenges.
Abass assured the House’s full support for the committee’s initiatives, urging collaboration with State Houses of Assembly to create a unified approach to combating food insecurity.
“The need for this National Summit on Nutrition and Food Security has never been more urgent,” Abass stated. “This organizing committee’s mission is to foster collaboration across ministries, engage both public and private sectors, and create a platform for lawmakers, experts, and community leaders to address the root causes of food security challenges.”
Chairman of the Committee Rep. Chike Okafor also spoke at the inauguration, emphasizing the severity of malnutrition across Nigeria, particularly in northern regions where severe malnutrition among children has spiked by 51%. He described the situation as a humanitarian crisis exacerbated by recent floods in Adamawa, Maiduguri, and Jigawa, which have disrupted food supplies nationwide.
Okafor stressed the summit’s importance in forming policies to tackle food insecurity, positioning the LOC to play a pivotal role in organizing the summit to engage stakeholders in the nutrition and food security sectors.
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