Surviving vs Thriving

Nigeria has invested heavily in humanitarian efforts over the years, yet insecurity, displacement and poverty continue to negate the efforts. As Nigeria retains its title as the largest economy in Africa, the people struggle to put food on the table. The culprit? Soaring inflation and poverty, a relentless tide eroding the nutritional well-being of Nigeria’s most vulnerable citizens.

Inflation hit a 17-year high of 28.20 per cent in October 2023, driven by factors such as global supply chain disruptions and persistent insecurity across the country. This price surge has disproportionately impacted food, the foundation of good nutrition. The cost of essential items like rice, beans, butter and cooking oil has skyrocketed by as much as 30 per cent, leaving many families with difficult choices – skipping meals or sacrificing other necessities.

The consequences for children are particularly dire. Malnutrition, already a significant challenge in Nigeria, is rearing its ugly head. A report by the Food and Agricultural Organisation estimates that nearly 26.5 million Nigerians will face food insecurity in 2024, including 9 million children under five, of which 2.5 million may face Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and require critical nutrition treatment. This translates to stunted growth, impaired cognitive development, and increased infection vulnerability, jeopardising their futures and potentially undermining the nation’s long-term human capital development.

The impact is particularly acute for infants who rely on breast milk or formula for their nutritional needs. Between January and May 2023, Médecins Sans Frontières provided inpatient care to 10,200 severely malnourished children with medical complications. They admitted 51,000 children to their outpatient feeding programmes in Northwest Nigeria, noting a 26 per cent increase from 2022. Breastfeeding is the gold standard, but many mothers, malnourished themselves, struggle to produce enough milk. Often seen as a lifeline, baby formula is becoming increasingly out of reach. With prices doubling or even tripling, many families are forced to dilute it, switch to cheaper, less nutritious alternatives, or abandon it altogether. Previously affordable alternatives such as corn, guinea corn, and soybeans have also surged in price, leaving little to no options for nutrition.

Organisations such as Action Against Hunger, Médecins Sans Frontières, and UNICEF have assisted the government in the fight against malnutrition in Nigeria for over a decade. Some of their efforts include supplying monthly food assistance to vulnerable families, implementing a National Plan of Action on Food and Nutrition, and introducing health education programmes. Despite these organisations’ efforts and accomplishments to tackle malnourishment in Nigeria, an estimated 88.4 million Nigerians continue to live in extreme poverty. With poverty being the leading cause of severe hunger among people living in the country, there is a need for poverty alleviation in the fight against malnourishment in Nigeria.

The Nigerian government is not without its efforts. Targeted social safety net programmes and price control measures have been implemented previously, but their effectiveness still needs to be improved. Structural challenges, such as dependence on food imports and inefficiencies in the agricultural sector, require long-term solutions. By partnering with organisations like the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the government can fund tailored research to explore various large-scale farming techniques. These techniques can assure maximum nutrition and help mitigate harvest failures and price fluctuations, especially in the ‘lean season’ – the period between harvests when stocks of food run low, from May to August in Nigeria. Government extension services can bridge the gap between research and adoption by farmers. Additionally, access to primary healthcare should be expanded nationwide, especially in rural areas, focusing on early detection and treatment of malnutrition as well as implementing multivitamin and food supplement drives.

Furthermore, urgent humanitarian assistance is needed to address immediate needs, but long-term investments in sustainable food systems and nutrition programs are crucial to breaking the cycle of malnutrition. Facilitating increased and sustained partnerships between Nigerian and international experts such as UNICEF to develop and implement context-specific solutions would play a crucial role in ensuring every child in Nigeria has the chance to thrive. Most importantly, tackling poverty through favourable economic policies can ensure that Nigerians can afford essential food items or equally nutritious alternatives. By addressing poverty, the number of malnourished children will also be reduced.

Nigeria’s rising inflation is not just an economic concern but a human tragedy unfolding in slow motion. Today’s erosion of children’s nutrition threatens to cast a long shadow on the nation’s future. Addressing this crisis requires a collective effort, from the Nigerian government to the international community, to ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive, not just survive.