Combating Malnutrition: Rep. Chike Okafor Leads Legislative Push at High-Level Dialogue

The Chairman of the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, Hon. Chike Okafor, Ph.D., has reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to combating malnutrition and food insecurity in Nigeria through strategic legislative action.

Speaking at The High-Level Dialogue on the Cost of Inaction on Nutrition in Nigeria and Commitment Making, held on Thursday, February 27, 2025, at Frasier Suites, Abuja, Hon. Okafor emphasized the growing threat of malnutrition, which has escalated from a health issue to a developmental and socio-economic challenge with far-reaching security implications.

The event brought together key stakeholders, including the Director General of the North West Governors Forum, Ms. Maryam Musa Yahaya; Country Director of Nutrition International, Osita Okonkwo; the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Abubakar Bagudu (represented by the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Vitalis Emeka Obi); Special Assistant to the President on Public Health (Office of the Vice President), Uju Rochas; the High Commissioner of Canada; the South Korean Ambassador to Nigeria; the Country Director for GAIN; representatives of the Ministries of Health, Agriculture, and Budget; as well as officials from the Spanish and French Embassies.

In his address, Hon. Okafor highlighted the Cost of Inaction Tool, which was first demonstrated at the National Assembly in July 2024 by Dr. Osita Okonkwo, following the inauguration of the National Legislative Network on Nutrition and Food Security by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, GCON, Ph.D. 

The network, which Hon. Okafor described as his ‘brainchild’, integrates the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security with State Assembly Committees across the country to drive nutrition-focused policies at all levels.

“We cannot start and end this conversation in Abuja while the real crisis is in our states, local governments, and communities.

“That is why we worked with State House Speakers to replicate these committees in the 36 States, ensuring that nutrition policy implementation is cascaded down to where it matters most.” He noted.

Hon. Okafor, beyond police engagement, emphasized ongoing legislative efforts to abolish multiple taxation on food and farm produce in transit, a major driver of food inflation and insecurity.

Commending the APC-led administration and the unwavering commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, Hon. Okafor stated that their strategic interventions have been crucial in preventing a full-blown nutrition crisis. 

He further acknowledged the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Atiku Bagudu, for his consistent support, urging him to not only keep his doors open for dialogue but also provide the ‘necessary funding’ to back legislative and executive efforts on nutrition security.

Hon. Okafor further highlighted the upcoming Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Summit in March, which he believes will further galvanize legislative action and attract new investments in Nigeria’s nutrition sector. 

He also emphasized the need for domestic resource mobilization, noting that Nigeria can no longer rely solely on international funding to address malnutrition.

To this end, he announced that the National Legislative Network on Nutrition and Food Security will channel a significant portion of constituency projects toward community-based nutrition interventions, including: Reactivating school gardens and farms to support school feeding programs, promoting home gardening and nutrition education at the grassroots level.

He added that the integration of nutrition counseling into State Health Insurance Schemes in collaboration with Primary Healthcare Agencies will be crucial.

Hon. Okafor closed his speech with a call to action, warning that the cost of inaction is too high.

“Our rhetoric must match our results. Malnutrition breeds insecurity and social unrest. If the poor man in the village cannot sleep because of hunger, the big man in Abuja will not sleep either. The time for action is now.” He stressed.

His remarks were met with widespread applause, reaffirming the collective commitment of stakeholders to tackling malnutrition and food insecurity in Nigeria.