Fight against Malnutrition receives boost, as Kaduna LGA Chairmen pledged N400 Million
By:Femi Mustapha
The fight against malnutrition received a boost as the 23 Local Government Area (LGA) Chairmen have pledged a combined total of N400 million to the Child Nutrition Matching Grant (CNF).
The commitment was announced at the April 2025 meeting of the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC), chaired by the Honourable Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Hon. Sadiq Mamman Lagos.
The fund is expected to be used to procure essential nutrition commodities such as Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Foods (RUTF), Small Quantity Lipid-based Nutrient Supplements (SQ-LNS), Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS), Vitamin A, and Micronutrient Powders (MNP).
The decision follows strong advocacy efforts by the Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) Kaduna State Chapter, in collaboration with the State Committee on Food and Nutrition (SCFN).
Their campaign emphasized the urgent need for increased investment in nutrition interventions across all LGAs.
Speaking at the meeting, the Commissioner revealed that each LGA would contribute approximately N20 million, to be paid in three installments.
Most importantly, the N400 million pledged by the LGAs will be matched by an additional N400 million from UNICEF, effectively creating a total pool of N800 million to fund malnutrition treatment and prevention initiatives at the local level.
To ensure the proper management and utilization of the funds, the Commissioner announced the formation of a three-member committee comprising the Chairmen of Chikun and Giwa LGAs and the CS-SUNN Kaduna State Coordinator.
The committee will oversee the smooth implementation of the financial commitments and related interventions.
In her remarks, the Kaduna State Coordinator of Civil Society-Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN), Ms. Jessica Bartholomew, said the commitment was one of the achievements of the advocacies CS-SUNN State and National Team carried out to various Ministries Departments and Agencies in collaboration with Kaduna State Committee on Food and Nutrition. (SCFN).
Similarly, the Kaduna State Team Lead for Alive & Thrive (A&T), Mrs. Sarah Kwasu, opined that they are counting on the Local Government Chairmen to stay committed to their promises.
According to her their total support
with their total support will improve Maternal, Infant, and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN) outcomes in Kaduna State
Representatives from critical MDAs including the Planning and Budget Commission (PBC), State Primary Health Care Board (SPHCB), National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN), and Alive & Thrive (A&T), along with CS-SUNN, attended the JAAC technical sessions, collectively representing the State Committee on Food and Nutrition.
Recent data showed that Kaduna state has one of the worst stunting rates among under-five children in the country, at 47%, which stakeholders hope to redress via significant financial commitment.
