Overview

The 'National Policy on Food and Nutrition in Nigeria' is a comprehensive policy document produced by the Ministry of Budget and National Planning in 2016. It addresses the critical issue of malnutrition in Nigeria, which manifests as undernutrition, overnutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies. The policy outlines a vision for optimal nutrition for all Nigerians, with goals to improve the nutritional status of Nigerians, especially vulnerable groups like women and children. It sets specific targets aligned with global commitments such as the World Health Assembly targets and the Sustainable Development Goals. Key strategies include promoting food security, improving infant and young child feeding, managing acute malnutrition, controlling micronutrient deficiencies, and strengthening nutrition governance and coordination. The institutional arrangement involves multiple stakeholders including federal and state ministries, local governments, development partners, and civil society, with a National Council on Nutrition overseeing implementation. Financing mechanisms include government budgets, donor funds, and private sector investments. Monitoring and evaluation frameworks are established to track progress through surveys like NDHS and MICS. The policy emphasizes community-based approaches, behavior change communication, and multisectoral collaboration. It also addresses specific issues like HIV/AIDS nutrition, emergency nutrition, and nutrition education. The document includes a glossary of terms and a list of abbreviations/acronyms.

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