From Joseph Asegba, Yola
The Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria has called on the Adamawa State Government to urgently review and increase its budgetary allocation to nutrition, warning of a looming crisis if decisive action is not taken.
The coalition made the call during a one-day stakeholders’ engagement held in Yola over the weekend, which brought together activists, media practitioners, experts and representatives of relevant ministries, departments and agencies.
Speaking at the meeting, Chairman of the Steering Committee, Comrade Sodangi Adam Chindo, said that despite Adamawa’s natural endowments, the state was grappling with worsening nutrition indicators that threaten the future of its children.
He cited data from the 2023 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, which showed that malnutrition in the state had deteriorated over the past five years.
According to him, stunting stands at 48.6 per cent, wasting at seven per cent and underweight prevalence at 32.5 per cent, alongside widespread household food insecurity.
“These figures are alarming and require urgent and coordinated action. Investing in nutrition is not optional but a smart economic strategy, as malnutrition weakens human capital and suppresses earnings,” Chindo said.
The coalition urged the state government to extend paid maternity leave from three to six months across the public sector and encourage adoption in the private sector to promote exclusive breastfeeding and improve child survival.
Earlier, the Adamawa State Coordinator of CS-SUNN, Ibrahim Bello, called for increased funding for child nutrition and sustained engagement with critical stakeholders to ensure counterpart funding for 2024/2025.
“We are advocating improved Child Nutrition Funding and the extension of paid maternity leave from three to six months to enable exclusive breastfeeding and better child care,” Bello said. “Investing in nutrition will save lives, strengthen human capital and build a more resilient Adamawa.”
He also urged civil society organisations and non-governmental groups to intensify advocacy, engage policymakers and monitor budget implementation and service delivery.
An official of the Adamawa State Ministry of Budget, Economic Planning and Development, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the government was working towards addressing the concerns raised by the coalition.
