The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has announced significant strides in strengthening Nigeria’s nutrition information systems, even as alarming malnutrition statistics underscore the urgent need for accelerated action.
Speaking at the 2nd Quarter 2026 National Nutrition Technical Working Group (NNTWG) meeting held in Abuja from 24th to 25th June, ministry officials acknowledged that while commendable progress has been achieved, substantial gaps remain in the nation’s nutrition data architecture.
The two-day gathering, themed “Strengthening Nutrition Routine Information System,” drew over 140 participants from federal and state ministries, development partners, civil society organisations, academia, and state nutrition officers across all six geopolitical zones.
Data Reveals Persistent Child Malnutrition Crisis
Recent findings from the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey paint a concerning picture: 40 per cent of children aged 6–59 months suffer from stunting, 8 per cent are wasted, and 27 per cent are underweight. Exclusive breastfeeding rates languish at 29 per cent, while micronutrient deficiencies remain widespread, with 30 per cent of children deficient in vitamin A and 31 per cent affected by anaemia.
“These figures remind us that despite progress, much work remains to be done,” the ministry emphasised. “Data quality is directly linked to the systems and processes that generate it.”
System Reforms Underway
Participants identified fragmentation in reporting and delays in decision-making as critical weaknesses in the current Nigeria Health Management Information System (NHMIS), largely attributed to inadequate standardisation and digitisation.
Following comprehensive reviews in 2024 and 2025, the NHMIS has been validated with updated nutrition indicators. The revised tools now incorporate key data elements including Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS), Small Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (SQ-LNS), Ready-to-Use Supplementary Food (RUSF), birth weight metrics, and early initiation of breastfeeding within one hour of birth.
Pilot testing commenced in six states—Benue, Kaduna, Bauchi, Ogun, Cross River, and Ebonyi—with national validation of Primary Health Care tools completed in May 2026.
However, participants voiced concern over delayed nationwide rollout, which has perpetuated parallel data collection systems among partners, undermining harmonised reporting efforts.
Logistics Platform Expands Coverage
Significant progress was reported in the Nigeria Health Logistics Management Information System (NHLMIS), the country’s first integrated health logistics platform. Nutrition commodities on the system have expanded from 5 to 23 items, including RUTF, F-75, F-100, RUSF, MMS variants, SQ-LNS, MNP, ORS, zinc sulphate, albendazole, iron-folic acid, and vitamin A.
Twenty-three states have received training and are actively reporting live nutrition commodity data through the platform, which commenced operations on 1st October 2025 with 185 health facilities. The system now integrates State Nutrition Officers and Local Government Area Nutrition Focal Persons into the reporting structure.
More than 1,774 government staff across 23 states received training following the validation of NHMIS tools on 13th-14th May 2026, establishing nutrition data elements in Antenatal Care Registers, Labour and Delivery Registers, and Growth Monitoring Registers.
Persistent Challenges
Despite these achievements, participants highlighted ongoing obstacles including parallel procurement and distribution systems, risks of commodity diversion and expiration, and weak integration of logistics data for planning purposes.
Stakeholders appealed for sustained collaboration among government institutions, development partners, civil society, and academia to accelerate progress toward national nutrition goals.
The National Nutrition Technical Working Group continues to serve as Nigeria’s central platform for technical coordination, evidence generation, and alignment of nutrition interventions across all government levels.
