FG, 20 States Pay N7.1bn as Counterpart Obligation to Child Nutrition Fund

• 16 other states yet to fund life‑saving interventions

The federal government and 20 states have so far contributed N7.1 billion as counterpart funds to the Child Nutrition Fund (CNF), which is intended for the procurement and distribution of life‑saving commodities and for expanding treatment coverage for severely acutely malnourished children in parts of the country.

However, 16 states have not met their counterpart‑fund obligations to support the nutrition intervention programme that is being financed with UNICEF assistance.

Sunday Okonkwo, Executive Secretary of Civil Society‑Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS‑SUNN), gave the update on Monday in Abuja while speaking on the implementation of the CNF at a hybrid media roundtable titled “Child Nutrition Fund (CNF) – A Strategic Pathway for Preventing Anaemia and Scaling Access to Life‑Saving Nutrition Commodities in Nigeria.”

Globally, the World Health Organization reports that anaemia affects 37 percent of pregnant women and 30 percent of women aged 15‑49 years, with Nigeria bearing a disproportionately high share of the burden.

According to the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2023, 67 percent of children aged 6‑59 months and 57 percent of women aged 15‑49 years are anaemic.

Anaemia significantly increases the risks of maternal mortality, low birth weight, impaired cognitive development in children, and reduced economic productivity.

Nigeria’s maternal mortality ratio stands at a staggering 1,047 deaths per 100,000 live births, with widespread deficiencies in iron, folate, zinc, and vitamin A among pregnant women perpetuating a vicious intergenerational cycle.

In an effort to address this health challenge, the CNF—a catalytic 1:1 co‑financing mechanism facilitated by UNICEF in partnership with donor partners—was established in 2020 as a strategic and innovative pathway to tackle malnutrition.

Okonkwo said many states have yet to join the initiative, and those that have announced participation have not yet released their funds.

He praised the federal government and the pioneering states for demonstrating visionary leadership by approving and releasing counterpart funds to the CNF.

The executive secretary noted that between 2023 and 2026, the federal government and 20 states released N7.1 billion, while the federal government committed N1.2 billion.

He said, “These investments have facilitated the procurement and distribution of life‑saving commodities, expanded treatment coverage for severe acute malnutrition, and improved availability of MMS across health facilities in adopting states.”

“While progress made so far is encouraging, adoption remains uneven. Many states are yet to approve the CNF, while others face challenges of timely release and full utilisation of approved funds for the procurement of nutrition commodities,” he added.

“These gaps limit the fund’s potential to transform nutrition outcomes nationwide. CS‑SUNN calls on state governments that are yet to approve the CNF to join this important national initiative so that no part of the country is left behind in the fight against malnutrition.”

Okonkwo urged states that have approved the fund to expedite the release of funds and ensure efficient utilisation, with a specific focus on scaling up MMS for the prevention of anaemia among pregnant women.

He called for strengthening and integrating MMS into routine antenatal care protocols across all health facilities, and for adequate training of healthcare providers to deliver effective counselling and MMS.

He also urged the establishment of robust logistics and monitoring mechanisms to prevent stock‑outs and ensure equitable access in both rural and urban areas, increased domestic resource mobilisation, and full leveraging of the 1:1 matching opportunity offered by the CNF.

The hybrid media roundtable provided a platform for state representatives to deepen their understanding of the CNF as a catalytic mechanism, spur policy prioritisation, and contribute to the achievement of the 2026‑2035 National Policy on Food and Nutrition as well as the nutrition targets of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The organisers urged the media to amplify the urgent national agenda, saying the media remains a powerful force for sensitisation, agenda‑setting, and accountability.