The National Council on Nutrition, NCN, has adopted the National Policy on Food and Nutrition, NPFN, 2026-2035 and directed the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning to present the policy to the Federal Executive Council for ratification.

The council’s approval followed a painstaking process of ratification by critical stakeholders in Nigeria’s nutrition sector comprising public and private sector sponsors.

The adoption of the policy was part of decisions taken by the council at its 15th meeting held virtually and chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima.

Summarizing the Council’s decision, the Vice President urged members of Council to be guarded by the reality that behind every statistic discussed at the meeting “is a Nigerian child whose life chances are being written by what” the government does or fails to do in the months ahead.

Senator Shettima described the NPFN 2026-2035 as “the most consequential nutrition policy this country has produced,” saying “it is multi-sectoral by design, evidence-based by discipline, and grassroots by orientation.”

Council further directs that all 36 states and the FCT operationalise State Multisectoral Plans of Action for Food and Nutrition within six to nine months.”

Council also approved the extension of the timeline for the submission of a draft bill on National Nutrition by 6 weeks and directed that the draft must be submitted to the National Assembly within 8 weeks.

The Vice President commended the composition of the adhoc committee, noting that “this is the right room to draft this Bill in.

On nutrition financing, NCN also approved the inclusion of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, the Commissioners of Finance Forum, and ALGON in the sub-committee.

The VP commended the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare for the Sub-committee's work, highlighting the five financing streams identified, including, domestic, bilateral, multilateral, private sector, and innovative.

Vice President Shettima said the Sub-committee, in its operational mode, will work in close coordination with the Nutrition 774 Strategic Board to eliminate any duplication of mandate but rather reinforce one another.

Following the adoption of the policy, Council directed the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors' Forum, working through the NGF secretariat, and in coordination with the Office of the Vice President, to lead the establishment and inauguration of State Councils on Nutrition in the remaining 27 States and the FCT within the next 3 months to give a sub-national ownership of the policy as only 9 Councils are in. existence of the 36 states.