Imo State is set to join the Food and Agriculture Organization’s,FAO, nutrition-sensitive pilot scheme, following strong advocacy by Hon. Deacon Chike Okafor.
Hon. Okafor made a compelling case during a high-level forum on agriculture sector food and nutrition systems held in Abuja on Thursday, where he urged the FAO to urgently include Imo in the ongoing project.
The scheme, which initially selected Lagos, Ogun, Niger, and Bauchi states, had excluded the South East and South South regions—an omission the lawmaker described as worrisome.
The legislator, who represents Ehime Mbano/Ihitte Uboma/Obowo Federal Constituency of Imo State, emphasized the importance of a nutrition-sensitive approach in addressing Nigeria’s escalating food insecurity and malnutrition challenges.
He stated that the project was timely and crucial, especially in the light of the commitments made at the recent Nutrition for Growth Conference in Paris.
Hon. Okafor said the Committee on Nutrition and Food Security, established under the 10th National Assembly by Speaker Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, was inaugurated on February 2024.
With a mandate to provide legislative support in nutrition and food security matters, the committee had already mobilized a nationwide response by engaging stakeholders through a retreat held from May 1 to 4 in the year 2024
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This event led to the establishment of similar committees in all 36 states and the formation of the National Legislative Network on Nutrition and Food Security.
He praised the FAO for its technical assistance and involvement, particularly the contributions of its Nutrition Specialists Jasper Batureine Mwesigwa and Ibrahim Isiaka.
Their support, alongside consultants sponsored by the FAO, played a pivotal role in the committee’s key initiatives. Hon. Okafor also acknowledged development partners such as UNICEF, Nutrition International, the World Food Programme, and the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition for their collaborative efforts.
Highlighting policy reform as critical to achieving nutrition outcomes, he pledged to champion legislation aimed at eliminating multiple taxation on food products in transit, and addressing cultural practices that negatively affect child and maternal nutrition. He also pushed for a review of the under-implemented National Multi-Sectoral Plan of Action for Food and Nutrition (2021–2025).
In a passionate plea, Hon. Okafor demanded FAO’s assurance that Imo State would be added to the pilot scheme. “I will not leave this podium until you make that promise to include my dear Imo State,” he said. His persistence paid off, as the Deputy Country Representative of FAO, Dr. Toafiq, confirmed Imo’s inclusion as the fifth participating state.
Further commitment came from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, with Director of the Nutrition and Food Safety Department, Nuhu Kilishi, pledging to enlist Imo State in the Junior Farmers Field and Business School programme.
Hon. Okafor concluded by reaffirming the National Assembly’s commitment to working with stakeholders to reduce malnutrition and food insecurity, stating, “Working together, we will significantly reduce malnutrition and food insecurity in Nigeria.”
