The House has expressed readiness to partner with sub-nationals to reduce malnutrition, hunger and boost food security in Nigeria
The House of Representatives has called for effective collaboration between governments at national and sub-national level and development partners in order to reduce malnutrition and improve food security across the country.
Chairman of the house committee on nutrition and food security, Rep Chike Okafor (APC, Imo) made the call during the launch of the national legislative network on nutrition and food security in Abuja. The event also featured the investiture of Speaker Tajudeen Abbas as national patron of the network and workshops for the newly constituted leadership of the state houses of assembly committees on nutrition and food security.
Okafor warned that so long as the poor are kept awake by hunger, the rich will not enjoy peaceful sleep. He said: “Malnutrition and food insecurity remain a constant threat to socio-economic development in Nigeria, as much as it has become an existential threat. Worsening inflation has also aggravated this burden on ordinary Nigerians. Between the last time we met in Owerri, May 2-4 2024 ,with Speakers of State Houses of Assembly and today, food insecurity situation in Nigeria has worsened. There is, however, cause for optimism.
“The optimism we share stems from the fact that for the first time, attempts to tackle malnutrition and food insecurity will have a legislative push. Furthermore, this legislative perspective will be driven collectively and holistically, anchored on the joint effort of the committee at the National and State Houses of Assembly, driven by a joint work plan with flexibility for incorporation of state-specific exigencies”.
He further explained: “This is the purpose of the formation of the national network which is being created at this meeting. We are all aware of the impact of multiple taxation on agricultural produce as they traverse from one part of Nigeria to the other. This has resulted in wide discrepancies in cost of food items like Maize, Beans, Millet, Soya Beans, Rice, Yams, etc from Birnin-Kebbi to Badary, Yola to Yenegoa, Azare to Aba, Okenne to Onitsha, Adamawa to Anambra States, etc.
“We need to address this distortion holistically through appropriate national and state legislations. Post-harvest losses have continued to be a source of concern to us, as it has also negatively impacted food security. It is time we provide a collective, strategic solution from a legislative lens. Malnutrition is now a potent negative threat to societal well-being more than ever before. Among children under 5, it progressively reduces their brain development, especially among stunted children.
On his part, the Deputy, Speaker Rep. Benjamin Kalu, explained that the committee was created in response to current realties.
In his remarks, Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Debo Ogundoyin reiterated the network’s commitment to the reducing malnutrition and the promotion of food security.
Ogundoyin who doubles as chairman, Conference of Speakers, assured on his members’ commitment to the work plan adopted in Owerri earlier in the year. He said: “You have my unwavering support for this network and its work plan. I am fully committed to galvanizing my esteemed colleagues across the country to join hands in removing legislative obstacles that perpetuate malnutrition and food insecurity. I am proud to see the collaboration between the National Assembly and the 36 State Houses of Assembly. This network will facilitate a unified approach to monitoring and implementing projects in nutrition and food security, ensuring that we meet our set objectives.
