The Silent Crisis: Malnutrition in Nigeria -By Seun Elere

If a plane were to crash today, it would dominate headlines for weeks. News outlets, both local and international, would tirelessly cover the tragedy, sharing stories of victims and families. According to Channel TV, from 1969 to 2022, Nigeria saw 2,038 deaths from plane crashes—an average of just under 40 people per year. To put this in perspective, an Airbus A380, one of the world’s largest aircraft, can carry up to 900 passengers at a time.

But here’s the twist: In Nigeria, millions are dying from malnutrition—an invisible crisis that rarely makes it to the front page. The number of people succumbing to malnutrition in Nigeria is as catastrophic as a plane crash every single day, yet it doesn’t garner the attention it desperately deserves.

Why isn’t malnutrition treated with the urgency it demands? Political leaders often shy away from addressing it, despite its devastating effects. It’s not a flashy, tangible infrastructure project, and it won’t generate the kind of publicity that attracts votes. In fact, a former Nigerian governor famously coined the term stomach infrastructure, and while he was mocked for it, the truth is that stomach infrastructure is a very real issue.

Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs starts with the most basic human requirement: food. Yet, over 70% of Nigerian households are food-insecure. With food inflation spiraling out of control, malnutrition—both visible and hidden—is on the rise. The result? Millions of Nigerians are dying, and countless others are denied the opportunity to reach their full potential.

The economic cost is staggering. Malnutrition is responsible for an estimated 11% annual loss in Nigeria’s GDP. It’s not just a public health crisis; it’s an economic one. Yet, it remains a silent predator, slowly draining the country’s potential.

This isn’t to say that the Nigerian government is doing nothing. There are several initiatives aimed at improving food security and reducing malnutrition, especially micronutrient deficiencies (often referred to as hidden hunger). One such initiative is rice fortification, which adds iron, zinc, folic acid, and vitamins B1, B3, B6, and B12 to rice. Given Nigeria’s high rice consumption, this approach has the potential to make a significant impact. By ensuring fortified rice is accessible through safety-net programs like school feeding and social assistance programs, we can reduce micronutrient deficiencies across the nation.

However, more must be done.

Attention must be given to stomach infrastructure. This involves increased funding for food and nutrition security and a shift in mindset among political leaders to prioritize long-term investments in nutrition. Addressing malnutrition should be seen not just as a social issue but as an economic imperative.

Until we treat malnutrition with the seriousness it deserves, it will continue to silently devastate Nigeria’s future, one life at a time

Seun Elere