Nigeria Adopts Decade Long National Food Policy To Overhaul Nutrition Standards Across All Local Governments

Vice President Shettima chairs the adoption of a 10-year food policy to improve maternal and child health across Nigeria. Read the new 2035 nutrition goals.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 29, 2026, 3:19 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Daily Trust

A Comprehensive Blueprint For National Food Security

The National Council on Nutrition officially adopted the National Policy on Food and Nutrition for 2026–2035 during its 15th meeting held on Tuesday. This strategic document, described as the most significant nutrition policy in the history of the country, serves as a decade long roadmap for public health and food stability. Chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the virtual session marked the culmination of extensive consultations between public sector leaders and private industry stakeholders. The policy is designed to be evidence based and community driven, focusing specifically on the nutritional needs of citizens at the grassroots level.

Mandatory Alignment Across Government Tiers

Following the adoption of the framework, the council issued a directive requiring all federal ministries, departments, and agencies to synchronize their internal policies and fiscal budgets with the new standards. This alignment must be completed within a 12 month window to ensure a unified approach to the nation’s nutrition crisis. Furthermore, the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory have been given a shorter timeline of six to nine months to develop localized action plans. This structured rollout aims to ensure that the policy’s objectives are translated into tangible administrative actions across all 774 local government areas.

Legislative Safeguards For Nutrition Funding

To ensure the long term sustainability of these initiatives, the council is moving forward with the draft of a National Nutrition Bill, expected to reach the National Assembly within eight weeks. Vice President Shettima emphasized that this legislation must be robust enough to protect nutrition funding from the volatility of political transitions. The bill is intended to clearly define the specific responsibilities of every level of government, creating a legal obligation to maintain food standards. By enshrining these goals in law, the administration hopes to prevent future policy reversals and ensure consistent investment in public health.