The National Council on Nutrition (NCN) has approved the National Policy on Food and Nutrition (2026–2035), marking a major step toward strengthening Nigeria’s nutrition governance framework.

The policy was adopted at the Council’s 15th virtual meeting chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, and has now been forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning for presentation to the Federal Executive Council for ratification.

The new framework outlines a coordinated national approach to addressing malnutrition and improving food systems across all levels of government.

Vice President Shettima described the policy as a comprehensive national document designed to cut across ministries, states, and local governments, stressing that its success would be measured by real improvements in household nutrition outcomes rather than policy statements.

As part of implementation directives, all federal ministries, departments, and agencies are required to align their policies, plans, and budgets with the new framework within 12 months. States and the Federal Capital Territory have also been given six to nine months to establish and operationalise multisectoral nutrition action plans.

The Council further directed that State Councils on Nutrition be established in the remaining 27 states and the FCT within three months, in addition to the nine states where such structures already exist.

On legislation, the Council approved a six-week extension for the draft National Nutrition Bill and mandated its transmission to the National Assembly within eight weeks.

Reforms in nutrition financing were also endorsed, with new participation from key government and local government finance bodies. The financing structure will draw from domestic, bilateral, multilateral, private sector, and innovative funding sources.

The Vice President also announced plans for a private sector-driven nutrition challenge initiative to be launched within 60 days, in partnership with relevant federal agencies and development stakeholders.

He reaffirmed that the ongoing Nutrition 774 Initiative is designed to ensure nutrition interventions reach all 774 local government areas, with emphasis on measurable impact at community level.

Government officials say the policy is expected to serve as a long-term framework for improving child nutrition, strengthening human capital development, and reducing malnutrition nationwide.