Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed grave concern over the escalating malnutrition crisis in Nigeria, revealing that nearly 40% of children under five are being deprived of their physical and mental development due to poor nutrition. Speaking at the National Summit on Nutrition and Food Security in Abuja—represented by Senator Ibrahim Hadejia—Shettima described the issue as a pressing national emergency that touches not only on health, but also on the nation’s economy, education, and overall human capital development.

To address the crisis, Shettima announced the launch of the Nutrition 774 Initiative, a community-based programme approved by the National Council on Nutrition and aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda. He said the initiative aims to deliver real impact in underserved communities across Nigeria. A newly inaugurated Nutrition 774 Strategic Board, comprising legislators, civil society, and government officials, will oversee its implementation to ensure transparency and measurable outcomes.

While appreciating the support of development partners such as the World Bank, UNICEF, Médecins Sans Frontières, and Nutrition International, Shettima emphasized the need for unified efforts. He called for an end to fragmented nutrition interventions, urging stakeholders to align under a single national framework. The Vice President also applauded legislative bodies for forming a nationwide network on nutrition, stressing that future policies and budgetary decisions must translate into tangible improvements in communities, not just paperwork in government chambers.