The Federal Government has launched the National Guidelines for Public Procurement of Food and Related Services aimed at improving nutrition, promoting healthier diets and combating diet-related diseases across the country.
Speaking at the launch on Monday in Abuja, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, described the guidelines as a major policy shift that aligns public procurement with national health, nutrition and economic development goals.
He said government food procurement should no longer be treated as a routine administrative process but as a strategic tool for improving public health, strengthening food systems and driving sustainable national development.
In a statement by Assistant Director of Information and Public Relations, Ado Bako, Salako warned that unhealthy diets remain a major public health challenge, disclosing that they account for about 7.2 million deaths globally each year.
He added that Nigerians consume an average of 3.9 grams of sodium daily, nearly double the World Health Organisation’s recommended limit of two grams, increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, obesity and diabetes.
The minister also expressed concern over the country’s malnutrition burden, noting that almost half of under-five deaths are linked to malnutrition. He said recent national survey findings show that four in every 10 Nigerian children under five are stunted, while nearly two million children suffer severe acute malnutrition annually.
According to him, the government, as the country’s largest institutional purchaser of food and related services, has a responsibility to shape healthier food environments by demanding safer and more nutritious food products through its procurement policies.
Salako said the new guidelines establish evidence-based standards for public food procurement by promoting balanced diets and setting limits for sodium, sugar and unhealthy fats.
He also noted that the policy complements existing measures, including the National Guideline for Sodium Reduction, the Trans-Fatty Acid Regulation and the Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax.
He added that the initiative supports the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Initiative and President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to preventive healthcare and Universal Health Coverage by creating healthier communities through public policy.
The minister said the guidelines build on ongoing procurement reforms such as MediPool, which is designed to improve transparency, strengthen supply chains and expand equitable access to quality health commodities.
He called on procurement officers, accounting officers, and heads of government institutions to ensure the faithful implementation of the guidelines, stressing that their success would be measured by healthier meals served in schools, hospitals, correctional centres, military formations, and other public institutions.
Salako commended the Bureau of Public Procurement, the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Resolve to Save Lives, and other development partners for supporting the development of the guidelines, and urged stakeholders to translate the policy into measurable improvements in the health and well-being of Nigerians.
(The Whistler)