Nigerian children face malnutrition as food costs skyrocket

Soaring food prices in Nigeria are forcing families to make difficult decisions, with severe consequences for nutrition and health.

As food inflation reached a staggering 37.77% in September 2024, up from 30.64% the previous year, staple protein sources have become luxuries for many households.

Items like a crate of eggs now cost around N6,000, while a kilogram of fish is N5,500 and beef ranges between N6,500 and N7,000. This makes providing balanced meals an uphill struggle for millions of Nigerian families.

The impact is especially severe on children’s nutrition. Protein-rich foods are crucial for growth and cognitive development, yet their rising prices are leading many families to replace these essential nutrients with starchy alternatives.

Beatrice Oganah-Ikujenyo, a nutrition expert, warns that this dietary shift can result in long-term health problems, including stunted growth, weakened immunity, and delayed cognitive milestones.

“There are serious issues with hunger and inadequate nutrition. Protein is vital, especially for children, yet many families are having to make tough choices.

“Animal protein is crucial for children’s growth, immune function, and brain development.

“When families cannot afford it, we risk stunting children’s physical and cognitive development, affecting an entire generation’s potential,” she told Business Day.

According to UNICEF and the World Health Organization, 35% of Nigerian children under five are stunted, and 7% suffer from wasting.

Rukayat, a mother of three in Lagos, described the frustration of no longer being able to afford basic protein sources like eggs and meat.

“Just a few years ago, I could afford eggs, now one egg is N300 and one crate is around N6,500 to N7,000.

“Several times a week, I give my children meat, now, we barely manage it once a week. Milk has become very expensive, we cannot afford it regularly,” she stated.

Augusta Obieze, another mother, explained that even beans, a once-affordable source of protein, have become too expensive.

“Before now, I used to buy meat for N4,000 and fish for N5,000 to prepare a pot of soup, Today, I buy the same size of meat for N10,000 and fish of less size for N10,000 before I can make a pot of soup,” she said.

In desperation, some families have resorted to using bones or cow skin, known locally as “pomo,” to make soups and add flavour to meals. Fish, once a staple, is also largely out of reach, with families opting for cheaper bony varieties.

Experts and advocates are calling for swift government intervention. Suggested solutions include subsidies on essential foods, expanding school feeding programs to cover more children, and implementing strategic policies to stabilize food prices.

Nutritionists have recommended alternative protein sources, such as crayfish and soybeans.

They warned that without coordinated efforts, the long-term health of millions of Nigerian children hangs in the balance.