Mohammed Shosanya
A new UNICEF report reveals that 11 million children under five in Nigeria are experiencing severe child food poverty, making them 50% more likely to suffer from wasting, a life-threatening form of malnutrition.
The Child Food Poverty: Nutrition Deprivation in Early Childhood report examines the dietary deprivation among children under five in nearly 100 countries.
According to the report,Nigeria ranks among the 20 countries with the highest rates of severe child food poverty, accounting for almost two-thirds of the 181 million affected children worldwide.
Globally, most children in food poverty are fed only breastmilk or starchy staples, with less than 10% receiving fruits and vegetables and less than 5% consuming nutrient-dense foods like eggs, fish, or meat.
The report highlights that the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19, growing inequities, conflicts, and the climate crisis have exacerbated food insecurity, with nearly 32 million Nigerians food insecure during this year’s lean season.
Key factors contributing to child food poverty include inadequate food systems, families’ inability to afford nutritious foods, and aggressive marketing of unhealthy ultra-processed foods. In Nigeria, the poorest families are the most affected, with 44% of children facing severe hunger compared to 17% in the richest families. Despite a decline in severe child food poverty from 45% in 2012 to 32% in 2022, UNICEF emphasizes the need for further action to ensure all children have access to a diverse diet.
“Children grappling with severe child food poverty are more likely to face the life-threatening consequences of wasting, impacting their survival and growth,” said Cristian Munduate, UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative. “We urgently need to work together to make nutritious options more accessible and affordable, especially for vulnerable families.”
UNICEF calls on governments, organizations, and the food industry to: Transform food systems to provide nutritious, affordable, and desirable foods for young children; Utilize health systems to deliver essential nutrition services and counsel parents on child feeding practices; and Activate social protection systems to address income poverty through responsive social transfers.
To combat severe child food poverty and malnutrition, the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) was launched in Nigeria last year. The CNF, supported by several partners, incentivizes domestic investments to end child malnutrition. Four states have released funds to the CNF, with nine more pledging commitments.
UNICEF urges further support for the CNF and prioritization of efforts to end child food poverty and malnutrition.