Malnutrition Funding in Chaos as Lawmaker Demands $1M Clarity

Malnutrition Funding in Chaos as Lawmaker Demands $1M Clarity

Malnutrition in Nigeria has triggered fresh concern as a top lawmaker raised alarm over poor funding and a lack of transparency. He called for urgent action to protect vulnerable women and children.

Chike Okafor, who chairs the House Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, didn’t mince words when he called out international NGOs and development partners, saying their lack of financial openness is hurting efforts to combat hunger in Nigeria.

He said many partners involved in nutrition programs often withhold key details about how they use funds meant to save lives. “Unfortunately, there is a high level of opacity in the funding activities of development partners and international NGOs with regard to Nutrition Interventions in Nigeria. This is not the case in many other developing countries,” Mr. Okafor stated.

He made these comments during the CASCADE Legislative Convening on Nutrition and Food Security, a session held in Abuja focused on improving nutrition strategies in Bauchi, Jigawa, Kebbi, and Nasarawa states. The event was hosted by CARE International Nigeria and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), bringing together lawmakers and health advocates.

Malnutrition remains a silent but deadly crisis in Nigeria, affecting over a million children and women. Without proper food, kids face stunted growth, weak immune systems, and poor academic performance. The situation is even worse in rural areas, where food insecurity is rampant, and healthcare services are stretched thin.

Mr. Okafor said hunger and food insecurity have reached a tipping point, calling them “a time bomb” that must be defused quickly. He pointed to poor budgeting, weak oversight, and multiple taxes on food transportation as major barriers to solving the crisis.

“The key to ending malnutrition is effective legislative oversight, increased budgetary allocation to nutrition interventions at the federal, state, and local government levels, and review of extant practices and laws that promote food insecurity,” he explained.

He said parliament must play a bigger role by tracking every naira allocated to food and nutrition projects—not just government funds, but also money from foreign donors and NGOs. For this to happen, NGOs must stop hiding behind paperwork and start opening their financial records.

“I urge these partners in Nigeria to show more transparency, and open their books for more scrutiny. We do not want to revoke our constitutional rights to get this done,” Mr. Okafor warned.

He also criticized the practice of rewarding poorly performing states with more money, calling it counterproductive. According to him, local governments and agencies that meet nutrition goals should be the ones getting more funds—not those lagging behind.

“Rewarding local governments or agencies that meet nutrition targets is a more pragmatic motivator than current initiatives that reward poor performing states with poor nutrition indices by investing more funds there, akin to pouring water into a basket,” he said.

He believes positive reinforcement works better. When performing states are encouraged, others will take notes and try harder to improve their own results.

From the civil society side, CARE International Nigeria’s Acting Country Director, Jennifer Orgle, painted a picture of hope—but also sounded an alarm about serious funding gaps. She said the CASCADE project, launched in 2023, aims to reduce malnutrition for at least 1.1 million women of reproductive age and children under five in Nigeria.

She applauded the federal government for making nutrition a national priority, noting recent calls for better coordination and funding show the administration is listening.

“The Federal Government’s recent call to action in improving coordination, financing, and accountability in food and nutrition demonstrates its commitment to securing food and nutrition security for all, especially, women and children,” Orgle said.

But she didn’t shy away from highlighting the challenges. She pointed out that many state governments still fall short in providing enough funding for nutrition-sensitive programs. This weak commitment, she warned, undermines the broader goal of eliminating malnutrition.

The CASCADE project—short for Catalyzing Strengthened Policy Action for Healthy Diets and Resilience—seeks to build a solid foundation to tackle hunger through smarter policy, better funding, and clearer accountability.

Ms. Orgle said coordination remains one of the weakest links. Even when the money is available, poor planning and lack of communication among agencies often waste the resources. She emphasized the need for shared commitment, both from government and private partners, to sustain progress.

Nutrition experts say this issue affects the whole country, not just children. Malnutrition impacts productivity, increases healthcare costs, and stunts national development. For every dollar invested in nutrition, studies show a return of over $16 in health and productivity benefits.

That’s why lawmakers like Mr. Okafor want clear financial roadmaps for every program. His committee plans to hold regular reviews, push for stronger monitoring, and ensure that results—not promises—drive future funding.

The National Assembly is also expected to revisit laws that make it harder to transport food across Nigeria. Many food products face multiple taxes while in transit, which drives up costs and discourages farmers and traders.

Analysts believe simplifying these laws will lower food prices, making it easier for poor families to feed their children with healthier meals.

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At the same time, Mr. Okafor emphasized the need for synergy between federal and state governments. He said state assemblies must also play their part by passing laws that prioritize nutrition and holding their own agencies accountable.

Meanwhile, several NGOs present at the meeting pledged to review their own financial processes to allow for more transparency. Some also expressed interest in working directly with community groups to ensure funds reach those most in need.

The event ended with a clear message: nutrition must become a national emergency. Stakeholders agreed that without bold steps, the lives of millions of Nigerian children remain at risk.