The National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has raised alarm that more than 35 percent of Nigerian children under five are affected by malnutrition, describing the crisis as a major public health challenge.
In a statement on Thursday, the association warned that malnutrition contributes significantly to child mortality, hampers cognitive development, weakens immunity, and threatens national productivity.
NARD said interventions currently being deployed include the distribution of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), community-based management of acute malnutrition (CMAM), and Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF) counselling. The body added that these strategies have been shown to improve recovery rates and survival outcomes for children.
“NARD members are at the forefront of implementing and researching malnutrition interventions across Nigeria,” the association said, calling for stronger support for sustainable nutrition programmes to protect children nationwide.
The warning comes amid growing concern from government and international organisations over the scale of the crisis. In August, the Federal Government declared malnutrition a national emergency, estimating annual economic losses at over $1.5 billion. Special Assistant to the President on Public Health, Uju Rochas-Anwuka, said the situation was undermining human capital and long-term development.
Vice President Kashim Shettima had earlier warned that nearly 40 percent of Nigerian children under five are deprived by malnutrition, describing the problem as “a national crisis” at a summit on nutrition and food security in Abuja.
In July, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) reported that more than 600 malnourished children died in northern Nigeria in the first half of 2025, with severe cases rising by 208 percent compared with the same period last year. The group cited reduced foreign aid, economic hardship, and insecurity as major contributing factors.
