FG Seeks Stronger Local Action, Innovation to Tackle Malnutrition Through Nutrition 774 Initiative
By Patience Ikpeme
The Federal Government has called for the development of ‘clinical pathways’ to strengthen nutrition outcomes at the grassroots level, at the same time tasking stakeholders across sectors to collaborate in delivering a more coordinated and sustainable response to malnutrition in Nigeria.
This call was made by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, during a two-day Stakeholders’ Workshop on the implementation of the Nutrition 774 (N774) Initiative held in Niger State.
Represented by the Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Sampson Ebimaro, Bagudu stated that meaningful change in nutrition governance begins with strategic collaboration, especially at the sub-national level where the burden of malnutrition is most acute.
He encouraged participants to leverage the experience of the National Executive Council of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON-NEC) in policy advocacy and implementation. According to him, this experience should be harnessed to forge a collective roadmap that would catalyze innovation and strengthen partnerships between government, the private sector, and local communities.
The N774 Initiative, which is being jointly coordinated by the Ministry and the Office of the Vice President, aims to reposition each of Nigeria’s 774 local government areas as functional units in the national campaign against malnutrition.
Bagudu pledged that the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning would continue to work closely with the Office of the Vice President to ensure efficient implementation of the programme’s framework at national and local levels.
Deputy Chief of Staff to the President in the Office of the Vice President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, also addressed the workshop, stating that the initiative reflects President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to grassroots development under the Renewed Hope Agenda. He described malnutrition as one of Nigeria’s gravest but least visible challenges — one that goes beyond health to hinder economic growth, educational attainment, productivity, and security.
According to Hadejia, the Nutrition 774 Initiative was designed to be a practical response to this silent crisis by turning every local government into a center for coordinated and community-led interventions. “Our economy cannot thrive when a significant portion of its future workforce is denied the foundational right to adequate nutrition,” he said.
He charged local government leaders to take ownership of the programme, noting that their commitment to institutionalizing nutrition governance would determine the initiative’s success.
ALGON President, Engr. Bello Lawal, reiterated the association’s support for the initiative, describing it as a key part of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He noted that local governments are well-positioned to deliver targeted interventions that can effectively tackle malnutrition, especially through improved funding, budgetary planning, and awareness campaigns.
Lawal stated that ALGON would play a central role in developing the N774 Implementation Framework and Roadmap. The association, he added, is also working to establish nutrition-specific budget lines at the local government level, advocate for sustainable financing, and coordinate sensitization programmes among state and local government chairpersons.
Also speaking at the event, the Chief of Nutrition at UNICEF Nigeria, Nemat Hajeebhoy, praised the Office of the Vice President, the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, and ALGON-NEC for their leadership on the matter. She said Nigeria’s role is vital in the global effort to eliminate hunger, noting that without Nigeria’s leadership, the world cannot win the battle against malnutrition.
Hajeebhoy described local governments as being at the frontline of delivery, and called the Nutrition 774 Initiative a unique opportunity to decentralize nutrition governance, improve local financing mechanisms, and ensure measurable outcomes at the community level. She urged stakeholders to learn from successful models, such as Jigawa State’s Masaki Programme — a community-driven approach she said is scalable and adaptable.
She advised ALGON and the Office of the Vice President to consider a learning mission to Jigawa State to observe the Masaki model in practice. “We encourage other LGAs to adapt similar models and tailor them to their specific contexts in order to accelerate progress,” she said.
During zonal presentations on the progress of the N774 Initiative, the North-West region reported the appointment of technical nutrition focal persons across its states, the establishment of nutrition budget lines in all local governments, and the development of strong monitoring and evaluation systems supported by skilled personnel. The region also highlighted its collaboration with development partners and efforts to share knowledge and best practices.
In the South-West, stakeholders reported significant progress under the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) component, including private sector engagement to build toilets and legal action against open defecation. The zone also outlined its education-related targets, including plans to introduce nutrition education in all primary schools by the first quarter of 2026, promote healthy eating habits, encourage home-grown feeding programmes, and implement school-based nutrition activities.
The workshop was supported by UNICEF Nigeria, Helen Keller International, and the Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN). Representatives from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies, the UK Government, and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) also participated.
The Nutrition 774 Initiative continues to gain momentum as a key platform for addressing Nigeria’s nutrition challenges through coordinated efforts, innovative solutions, and strong grassroots engagement.
