By Ihechinyere Chigemeri-Uwom

Gov. Alex Otti of Abia State has described the growing crisis of malnutrition in Nigeria as a “silent emergency” threatening the nation’s stability and future.

He made the statement on Wednesday while declaring open a two-day workshop marking the commencement of the Nutrition 774 (N-774) Initiative in Abia State.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Office of the Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima, was inaugurated in Abia to tackle malnutrition and food insecurity, particularly among children and vulnerable populations.

The theme of the workshop is “Strengthening Capacity to Drive Action for Nutrition Delivery.”

Otti expressed deep concern over alarming malnutrition statistics, describing them as evidence of a long-ignored national threat.

“This goes beyond nourishment; it is about saving our future by addressing a critical threat to the physical and cognitive development of our people,” he said.

He commended the Federal Government for its “timely and holistic response” to the challenge and also commended the N-774 team for their dedication and strategic coordination.

“This programme stands out for its multi-stakeholder and community-focused design.

“Its broad governance framework acknowledges both urban and rural realities and creates the right ecosystem for effective implementation,” he added.

Otti reiterated that the Abia State Government was fully committed to the success of the N-774 initiative, noting its alignment with the state’s broader agenda on health, education, and family welfare.

“Since 2024, we have allocated 35 per cent of our annual budget to health and education, as our children’s development is a foremost priority,” he said.

He also used the platform to advocate for increased investment in agriculture, warning that the fight against malnutrition would fail without addressing insecurity, inadequate rural infrastructure, and poor farmer support.

“Nigeria is too blessed to be facing this scale of food crisis. We must fix our agricultural value chain to truly combat hunger,” Otti emphasised.

He noted that sustainable nutrition required job creation, youth empowerment, and stable food prices.

“There is a direct link between malnutrition and poverty, insecurity, and unemployment. N-774 must be implemented as part of a broader economic and social reform,” he said.

The governor pledged to collaborate with the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) to drive the initiative across communities in Abia.

He also promised to establish the necessary structures and appointments to ensure full implementation.

Otti urged all stakeholders to commit to long-term solutions that addressed not just hunger but also the root causes of malnutrition.

In her address, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health, Dr Uju Anwukah, who also serves as the Focal Person on Nutrition at the Office of the Vice President, described malnutrition as a national emergency.

She emphasised that the crisis could only be resolved through political will, coordinated strategies, and action from all levels of government and society.

She stressed that the Federal Government alone could not solve the problem and urged traditional rulers, local government leaders, and grassroots actors to actively support the initiative.

Anwukah also urged state governments to integrate nutrition into agriculture, education, and health policies, stressing that local ownership was vital for sustainable impact.

Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr Kingsley Anosike, described the newly formed Abia Nutrition Council as a “dream team” expected to lead the initiative from policy to implementation.

He affirmed the state’s readiness to tackle child malnutrition and improve its national nutrition performance.

He encouraged participants to engage fully in the workshop and focus on identifying key drivers of nutritional success in the state.

Also speaking, the representative of the Isiukwuato Traditional Rulers Advisory Council, Eze Faraday Chinekwe, emphasised the importance of nutrition in societal growth.

“Whatever we gain from this workshop will be taken to the various autonomous communities by the traditional rulers present, and we will integrate it into our way of living,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo/Abiemwense Moru