The current state of malnutrition in Nigeria has wide-reaching consequences, affecting both the nation’s future development and the well-being of vulnerable populations, particularly children, pregnant women, and the elderly. Malnutrition, often referred to as a silent killer, contributes to a reduction in life expectancy for both adults and children in Nigeria. According to UNICEF, malnutrition is responsible for the daily deaths of 2,400 children in the country. While there is limited data on adult malnutrition, in 2024, 172 million Nigerians were unable to afford a balanced diet, resulting in insufficient intake of essential nutrients. This silent killer, caused by deficiencies, excesses, or imbalances in nutrient intake, is primarily driven by poverty and food insecurity, among other factors.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported that 4.3% of Nigerians were unemployed in Q2 of 2024. This means that a large number of people lacked a stable income and, as a result, were unable to take care of themselves or afford nutritious meals for themselves and their families. This leads to a higher susceptibility to conditions such as heart disease, anemia, and other nutrition-related illnesses, further decreasing the health status and productivity of the potential workforce.

Food insecurity, malnutrition, and poverty go hand in hand. A family in which both parents lack a stable income is food-insecure. When families can barely afford to eat and survive, children are the most affected, as they require nutritious meals for cognitive development and overall growth. Currently, Nigeria has the second-highest burden of stunted children in the world, highlighting an endemic issue in our health and food sectors. This also reflects a significant education gap, particularly between rural and urban areas, perpetuating a lack of knowledge about nutrition and the importance of a balanced diet.

In 2023, UNICEF estimated that 25 million Nigerians were at high risk of food insecurity. This was due to challenges such as inflation, security crises, climate change, and rising food prices, all of which made it difficult to address malnutrition. In 2024, Nigeria continued to struggle with high inflation rates, which led to extreme poverty, acute hunger, and starvation for vulnerable populations, further exacerbating the already worsening situation of malnutrition and food insecurity. The consequences were far-reaching, ranging from high infant and child mortality rates, which stunted overall human development, to poor economic growth due to reduced workforce efficiency, ultimately limiting long-term sustainability.

The Lagos Food Bank Initiative, established to address food insecurity, hunger, and malnutrition in Nigeria, began its efforts over 8 years ago. Recognizing the hunger and malnutrition crisis affecting vulnerable populations, the Food Bank set out to achieve zero hunger, combat food wastage, and promote long-term food sustainability. Today, the Food Bank has provided food and relief items to about 2.5 million beneficiaries across the nation. Through its Nutritious Meal Plan Intervention (NUMEPLAN) for vulnerable mothers and children, over 1200 children have been rescued from the claws of malnutrition. The Food Bank has also helped many vulnerable individuals regain stability by offering sustainable income opportunities through job placements and subsistence farming.

Five Ways The Lagos Food Bank Initiative Tackles Malnutrition in Nigeria

1. Provision of Food and Relief Items: Vulnerable people, with no access to food and other resources, have come to rely on the generosity of the Lagos Food Bank Initiative. Through the provision of food, clothing, household items, and educational supplies for children, the Food Bank ensures that people in underserved areas can stave off hunger and keep malnutrition at bay, even if only for a limited time. This has helped build the resilience of vulnerable populations and increase their productivity.
2. Nutrition Education Programs: The Food Bank regularly carries out nutrition awareness and education for its beneficiaries, especially pregnant women and mothers, and people struggling with diet-related diseases, to ensure healthy practices like dietary diversity and reduce the risk of nutrition-related conditions such as malnutrition, in order to improve their health and quality of life.
3. Agricultural Empowerment: The Food Bank understands that for malnutrition and hunger to be eradicated in a community, there needs to be sustainability in terms of food and financial resources. Through the Family Farming program, vulnerable women and youth are trained and empowered in agricultural activities, which have led to improved nutrition among beneficiaries, financial stability from the establishment of backyard farms, and increased agricultural productivity, ensuring food security for themselves and their families.
4. Zero Food Wastage: According to the UN Environment Program (UNEP), one-fifth of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted globally, amounting to one billion meals a day. Armed with this knowledge, The Food Bank decided to address this issue by collecting surplus food from farmlands and food establishments to distribute to those in need. This ensures that no food is wasted and that vulnerable people receive the nutritious meals necessary for healthy living.
5. Employment Opportunities: Job security plays a vital role in breaking the hunger-poverty cycle, as it ensures both financial and food security. One of the initiatives of the Food Bank is to help the destitute secure jobs, enabling them to support themselves and afford healthy food. By providing jobs for the less privileged, the Food Bank not only tackles hunger, a major contributor to malnutrition, but also promotes economic resilience, which directly affects our nutritional resilience.

One of the key impacts of the Lagos Food Bank Initiative is the transformation of lives, particularly among malnourished infants who are brought to the Food Bank, often accompanied by their undernourished mothers who lack the resources to care for them and are not informed about the proper nutrients needed for their infants’ growth and development. A prime example is the case of 6-month-old Ismail, who was brought in as a 2-month-old baby weighing just 2.7kg. He was diagnosed with severe malnutrition and showed symptoms such as thinness, visible bones, scaly skin, and a weak cry. After nutritional intervention from the Lagos Food Bank Initiative, including the provision of nutritious food to address his malnutrition, Ismail was discharged at 6 months, weighing 6.8kg and in good health.

Food insecurity is an indication of an impoverished nation. When people lack access to safe and nutritious meals necessary for their growth and development, they are unable to contribute meaningfully to society, as their health deteriorates. This leads to a smaller, less healthy workforce, which decreases the country’s economic output and results in long-term losses in productivity and development. To effectively tackle the root causes of malnutrition, a coordinated effort among the government, private organizations, NGOs, and other key stakeholders is essential. Strengthening food security initiatives, including agricultural development and food distribution programs, will help eliminate malnutrition as a major factor in deaths in Nigeria.