The on-going Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit[LO1] in Paris presents an opportunity to reshape global and national nutrition financing strategies. As Nigeria grapples with alarming malnutrition rates, the summit’s call to close the $13 billion annual global nutrition funding gap must be contextualized to address the country’s unique challenges.
The Nutrition Financing Challenge in Nigeria
Nigeria remains the epicenter of malnutrition in Africa. According to the NDHS 2023-2024, 40% of Nigerian Children are stunted, 8% are wasted and 22% are underweight as against 37% of stunted children 7% of wasted, and 22% who were underweight according to NDHS 2018[LO2] . Despite various policy commitments, financing remains a critical bottleneck. The government’s current allocation to nutrition remains below international benchmarks, hindering efforts to combat undernutrition effectively.
Nigeria’s Commitment to Nutrition Financing
At the 2021 N4G Tokyo Summit, Nigeria pledged to increase domestic funding for nutrition programs and strengthen accountability mechanisms. However, progress has been slow. The CS-SUNN alliance has consistently advocated for increased budgetary allocations, implementation of cost nutrition plans, and tracking of disbursements at federal and state levels.[LO3]
What Must Nigeria Do Post-N4G Paris?
To ensure meaningful action post-N4G 2025, Nigeria must:
- Commit to increasing its national nutrition budget by at least 50% in the next three years.
- Enforce accountability mechanisms that ensure budget releases align with commitments.
- Leverage the private sector to co-finance large-scale nutrition programs.
- Empower state governments to allocate funds effectively, particularly in high-burden states like Kaduna, Kano, and Bauchi.
The N4G Paris Summit must not be another commitment-making event. CS–SUNN and other stakeholders must hold the government accountable to ensure nutrition financing in Nigeria becomes a priority, not an afterthought.
