Nigerian children at worst risk as acute food hits 14.5m nation’s population — UNICEF

A Nutritionist, Nkiru Enwelum has expressed concern over the rising cases of malnutrition in Nigeria, warning that unless the populace is conscious of the implications of children not getting enough micro-nutrients the nation’s population risks increase in child deaths.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) nutrition expert said this on Friday as a report emerged, indicating that over 14.5 million Nigerians facing food crisis due to insecurity.

The report also revealed that of the 14.5 million children are worst affected by the acute food insecurity.

The revelation came during a workshop in Enugu, on SDGs as Child Rights, organised by the Child Rights Information Bureau of Federal Ministry of Information and Culture in collaboration with UNICEF.

In the two-day Media Dialogue attention was centred on Malnutrition, which according to the expert is not only rising, but extremely high in some parts of the country, like North West and North East.

News Express learnt that the report is the outcome of a study by Cadre Harmonize for Identification of Risk Areas and Vulnerable Populations conducted in 21 States and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Nigeria.

The study shows: “Results of the Analysis of Current Period (March to May, 

2022) and Projected Period (June to August 2022) 

Prepared on: 11/03/2022”

Similarly the report gives details of findings stating, “The analysis considered food and nutrition security outcomes (Food consumption, livelihood evolution, nutritional status and mortality); complemented with inferences drawn from the impact of relevant contributing factors (hazards and vulnerability, food availability, food access, food utilization and stability).

“The result of the analysis indicates that 14.5 million people (9.1%) of the analyzed population require urgent assistance in the current period (March to May, 2022). During the projected period (June to August 2022), the number of vulnerable population may rise to 19.5 million (12.3%) of the overall population analyzed, unless conscious 

efforts are made to provide strategic resilience-focused interventions and humanitarian assistance in areas where necessary”.

It goes on to explain other key parts of the study such as ‘Hazards and Vulnerability’.

It said: “In Zamfara, Kaduna, Katsina, Sokoto and Niger States including the FCT, high cases of banditry and kidnapping were witnessed. Similarly, in the north central states of Benue and Plateau incessant cases of farmers and herders conflict has remained a concern. These situations have resulted to high levels of displacement, disrupted livelihood and unavailability of stable Income Generating Activities (IGAs) in affected areas. In the BAY States

(Borno, Adamawa and Yobe), the continued operations of Non-State Armed Groups (NSAGs) remains a concern  resulting in high rates of displacements, unstable livelihoods and use of irreversible coping strategies among several households to meet their food and basic none-food needs. Generally, the over 50% hike in staple food 

prices witnessed across the states, has implications on HHs access stocks, quantitative and diversified nutritious foods both in the current and projected periods”. 

It further shows “Main results for zones affected by food and nutrition insecurity in the 21 states of Abia, Adamawa, Bauchi, Benue, Borno, Cross-River, Edo, Enugu, Gombe, Jigawa, 

Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Lagos, Niger, Plateau, Taraba, Sokoto, Yobe, Zamfara and the FCT. During the current period, Borno, Sokoto, Katsina and Yobe have some of the areas largely classified in crisis with Gubio LGA in Borno State having some populations in emergency. During the projected period, several areas inBorno Kaduna, Sokoto, Zamfara, Yobe and Peri-Urban FCT will likely fall under the crisis phase of FNI withsome populations under the emergency phase in Abadam, Mobbar and more populations in Gubio LGAs of Borno State”.

The expert lamented that about 80% of Nigerians are not getting the required interventions to address the malnutrition challenge.

She added that malnutrition is a national problem.

The expert cautioned that the country cannot escape the consequences of poor nutrition of its population, which she listed as increase in child deaths, permanent brain damage, lack of focus by children and poor conception of a child under two years of age, among others.