Malnutrition funding crisis: Lagos must do more as few states carry burden — CS-SUNN

… Kano leads in child nutrition funding

By Chioma Obinna

As Nigeria’s malnutrition crisis deepens, only a small group of states in the country are making meaningful financial commitments, while many others lag, worsening child deaths and treatment gaps nationwide, the Executive Secretary of Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria, CS-SUNN, Mr. Sunday Okoronkwo, has said.
Speaking with Good Health Weekly, after a three-day media training tagged: “ Media as Catalysts for an Anaemia free Nigeria”, organised by CS-SUNN, in Abuja, Okoronkwo said funding released for nutrition interventions remains grossly inadequate when measured against the scale of malnutrition across the country.
“We are trying, but when you compare the money being released with the magnitude of the problem, the problem clearly outweighs the funds. That is the core challenge,” he said.
He acknowledged Lagos State’s recent intervention, noting that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu re-approved and released ?100 million to the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF).
However, he stressed that the amount is insufficient given Lagos’ population size and the rising number of severe acute malnutrition cases.
“I must commend Lagos for re-approving the N100 million pledge, but Lagos needs to do much more. With the rising number of malnutrition cases, the current commodities will not be enough,”Okoronkwo said.
He added that Lagos faces additional risk due to its large population of pregnant women, warning that existing supplies of Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) may not be sufficient to prevent low birth weight and malnutrition among newborns. “We are already setting children up for malnutrition,” he said.
Okoronkwo rated states based on the size, consistency, and release of their contributions to the Child Nutrition Fund, CNF. He said northern states have largely taken the lead, demonstrating stronger political will and budgetary commitment.
Among top performers,Kano leads with N600 million annually, followed by Kaduna (N400 million), Jigawa (N250 million), Katsina (N250m in 2023, N250m in 2024, N450m in 2025), Zamfara (N500 million), and Kebbi (N500 million in 2025). Borno (N100 million) and Niger State (N250 million) were commended for timely release of their pledges.
“These states have shown seriousness. They have ensured that commodities are available in primary healthcare centres and outpatient therapeutic programme sites where children are brought for treatment.”
Mid-level performers include Adamawa (N100m in 2023 & 2024; N300m in 2025 pending release), Oyo (N233 million), Plateau (N300 million), Ebonyi (N150 million), Yobe (N120 million), Delta (N100 million), and Enugu (N160–175 million).
“While these states have made commitments, delays in releasing funds have limited impact on the ground. These states have taken steps, but slow releases mean children still face stock-outs and gaps in treatment,” he said.
Okoronkwo expressed concern that several states, particularly in the South, are yet to fully key into the Child Nutrition Fund or treat it as a recurring budget priority.
“Some states are still watching from the sidelines. This is a win-win opportunity. When this window closes, it will be too late, because children are dying every day.”
Citing available data, Okoronkwo said only one out of every three children with severe acute malnutrition currently receives treatment.
“If funds can only treat one child out of three, what happens to the other two?” he asked.
He referenced a UNICEF report indicating a funding gap of about 68 percent in nutrition treatment and human resources, stressing that partial interventions only worsen outcomes.
“You cannot treat malnutrition halfway. When it comes back, it often comes back stronger,” he said.
Okoronkwo called on the Federal Government to urgently release its N1.2 billion pledge to the Child Nutrition Fund, warning that the initiative has a limited lifespan.
“The CNF has a timeline. Once it ends, it ends. This is the moment for the Federal Government and the states to act decisively.”
Kano State has emerged as the highest-performing state under Nigeria’s Child Nutrition Fund, consistently committing and releasing about N600 million annually for nutrition interventions.
According to CS-SUNN, Kano’s sustained funding has ensured steady availability of life-saving nutrition commodities in primary healthcare centres and outpatient therapeutic programme facilities across the state.
“Kano is a clear example of what political will can achieve,” said Mr. Sunday Okoronkwo, Executive Secretary of CS-SUNN. “They are not waiting for donors alone; they are taking ownership of the malnutrition challenge.”
CS-SUNN noted that Kano’s approach of early commitment, prompt release, and annual budgeting has helped stabilise treatment services in high-burden communities and provides a model for other states to follow.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of True Communications, Mr. Geoffrey Njoku, said the media must reposition nutrition as a national development and governance issue rather than a narrow social concern.
“If we keep doing the same thing and the results are poor, then we must change our approach,” Njoku said. “Nutrition affects productivity, education and national growth.”
He stressed that stronger storytelling, community voices, and accountability reporting are critical to sustaining political will and ensuring that life-saving nutrition commodities reach the people who need them most.

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