News

5,800 Plateau Children Suffer Acute Malnutrition – Report

Published

5 months ago

August 28, 2025

By Asile Abel,Jos

For decades, malnutrition in Nigeria has been described in statistics, often reduced to charts and policy debates. But in places like Jos North, the crisis has a face, small arms that barely fit a measuring tape, sunken eyes that betray hunger, and children who, at five years old, weigh less than they should at two.

Despite being one of Nigeria’s agricultural strongholds, Plateau State has not been spared from the nutrition crisis gripping the country. According to the 2023 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), nearly half of the children in the state are stunted, with more than 326,000 affected, a staggering figure for a state blessed with fertile soil and local food options.

Still, in the midst of the crisis, voices of resilience rise.

Cynthia Raymond, a mother of a six-month-old baby, sits proudly with her daughter in her arms. Nothing else, just breast milk. It’s been good. No illness. I eat well, eggs, meat, fruits and I see the strength in my baby. She hardly falls sick.” she says with confidence.

Cynthia is one of many mothers embracing exclusive breastfeeding, a low-cost, high-impact intervention proven to prevent disease and promote healthy growth in children under six months.

“After six months, I plan to introduce complementary feeding. I’ll make Tamba, groundnut, grains with crayfish and vegetables. I want her strong,” she added.

Another mother, Tabita Solomon, shares a similar story. “I prepared puff from ground grains, soybean, and crayfish. He ate it and loved it. They said breastfed babies don’t eat much, but mine? He eats everything. He started crawling before five months. He walks now. Teething was easy.”

These mothers represent a growing movement: women returning to traditional, nutritious foods and health education to combat a crisis once thought insurmountable.

Yet, the scale of the challenge is immense. Across Nigeria, over 15 million children are stunted, 10 million are wasted, and 12 million are anaemic. Numbers second only to India globally. In Plateau alone, 5,800 children suffer from severe acute malnutrition. And the consequences are deadly: weakened immunity, poor brain development, and a high risk of death before the age of five.

Philomena Irene, a Nutrition Specialist at UNICEF Nigeria, Bauchi Field Office, did not mince words during a two-day media dialogue with journalists in Jos. “Nigeria ranks number one in Africa for child malnutrition. Not because of war like in Sudan or Chad but because of our child population size and systemic health gaps.

She painted a grim picture “31 million Nigerians don’t know where their next meal will come from. And among children aged 0–6 months, only one in three is exclusively breastfed. We’re already shortchanging the future,” she warned.

Plateau’s statistics align with this national crisis. 46.4% of children are stunted, 4.8% are wasted, and 22.3% are anaemic. The under-five mortality rate is 105 per 1,000 live births, well above global targets.

She stressed that reversing malnutrition requires a shift not just in policy, but in attitude. “This is about our own children. Not someone else’s but ours. Feeding them right is our first responsibility.”

The mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) band, a simple strip used to measure a child’s nutrition status. “When the arm falls in the red zone, we know we must act immediately. That child is severely wasted”; Irene explained, holding up the strip.

In Plateau, the red-zone children number in thousands. Yet, the awareness is growing.

UNICEF called on local leaders, families, and policymakers to act. “Start from your kitchen. Choose wisely. That sugary beverage? It’s 90% sugar, 1% cocoa. That’s not food,” Philomena said, her voice tinged with frustration.

Malnutrition, as the Nutritionist say, is not incurable. But it is sneaky, it hides behind full stomachs and cultural norms. “Just because a child eats doesn’t mean they’re nourished,” warned Philomena

Irene revealed that every $1 invested in child nutrition generates a $16 return, emphasizing the economic and developmental urgency of tackling malnutrition among children aged 6 to 23 months in Plateau State.

The nutritionist said that while exclusive breastfeeding is vital for children from birth to six months, attention must shift to ensuring nutrient-rich complementary foods are introduced afterward.

“In Plateau State, according to the 2021 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, two out of every three children suffer from food poverty, meaning they lack access to the minimum dietary diversity needed for proper growth. Our goal with this dialogue is to mobilize awareness and foster government and community action to improve child nutrition outcomes,” she said.

Irene highlighted the significant consequences of malnutrition on cognitive and physical development, especially in the 6–23 months age range, which falls within the first 1,000 days of life, a scientifically proven window critical to lifelong development.

The nutrition specialist warned that failing to invest in nutrition carries steep costs for families and the country. “It costs ₦21,000 to prevent malnutrition, but more than ₦190,000 to treat it. The return on investment is clear for every $1 spent on nutrition, we get $16 in economic return,” Irene added, citing research from the World Bank and Lancet Series.

One of the key interventions spotlighted at the event was the introduction of Small Quantity Lipid-Based Nutrient Supplements (SQ-LNS)—a specialized supplement for enriching the diets of children during the complementary feeding period.

She explained that in 2024, Plateau State committed $200,000 to the Child Nutrition Fund, which was matched by UNICEF. The joint funding enabled the state to procure over 5,900 cartons of SQ-LNS for distribution.

Irene also revealed that discussions are underway to commence local production of SQ in Nigeria, a move aimed at reducing costs and creating jobs.

She emphasized that community awareness, sustained political will, and strategic government investments are vital in reversing the alarming trend of malnutrition. “This is not just a health issue, it is an economic and national development issue,” Irene said.

At the Township Primary Health Centre in Jos North, Halima Chantu, the acting officer-in-charge, leads the charge with hands-on education. “We give health talks every day during immunization and antenatal care. We teach them breastfeeding, complementary feeding, and local food prep,” she said.

Halima said that using locally available food is key. “Why spend money on packaged food when yam, sweet potato, and vegetables are right here? We teach them how to combine these. We even encourage them to grow spinach.”

Halima’s team monitors babies’ growth, checks weights, and follows up when signs of malnutrition appear. “We don’t stop at advice. We follow through,” she added.

The World Bank warns that stunting alone can reduce GDP, a stark reminder that malnutrition is not just a health issue, but a national development threat.

Across Jos and its neighboring communities, a quiet revolution is taking shape, one vegetable garden, one feeding demonstration, one mother at a time.

Mothers like Tabita and Cynthia are leading the way not with slogans, but with practice. Their message is clear: start early, feed right, and never underestimate the power of knowledge passed from one mother to another.

In a nation as young as Nigeria where nearly half the population is under 18, this revolution could shape the country’s destiny.

News

Federal Government Enforces No Work, No Pay Policy on Striking Health Workers

Published

17 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Nigerian Tracker

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Federal Government has mandated the immediate implementation of the “No Work, No Pay” policy against striking members of the Joint Health Sector Unions and Assembly of Health Care Professionals (JOHESU).

The directive was issued via a circular from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMoHSW) on Saturday.

Addressed to Chief Medical Directors and Medical Directors of all federal health institutions, the circular was signed by Dr. Disu Adejoke, Director of Hospital Services, on behalf of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare. The order is a direct response to the ongoing JOHESU industrial action, which began on November 14, 2025.

Effective January 2026, the policy will apply to all participating JOHESU members and any other staff who join the strike. Hospital managements have been instructed to ensure strict compliance with the policy.

While enforcing the sanction, the Ministry directed health institutions to maintain critical services—including accident and emergency care, labour wards, and intensive care units—using all lawful means. This may include hiring temporary locum staff. The circular explicitly states that staff willing to work must be allowed to do so “without hindrance or intimidation.”

Hospital authorities are also tasked with ensuring security within their facilities and providing regular updates to the Ministry on the strike’s impact on healthcare delivery. The government reaffirmed its commitment to preserving essential health services nationwide despite the industrial action.

Expert Warns of Systemic Risks

In a related interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Abuja-based public health expert Dr. Gabriel Adakole described the government’s move as a legally justified measure to end the strike. However, he highlighted serious implications for Nigeria’s already strained health system.

“JOHESU members—including nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, and allied health professionals—are essential to hospital operations. Their absence critically weakens service delivery, even where emergency units remain open,” Adakole stated.

He cautioned that relying on emergency-only care and locum staff cannot replace full multidisciplinary services, which raises risks to patient safety and treatment outcomes. The policy, he added, could exacerbate financial hardship for health workers, further demoralize the workforce, and accelerate the ongoing exodus of medical professionals from Nigeria.

“Ultimately, patients bear the greatest cost through delayed treatments and reduced access to care,” Adakole emphasized.

While acknowledging that the “No Work, No Pay” policy may compel a quicker resolution, he stressed that lasting stability in the health sector requires meaningful dialogue, trust-building, and sustained investment in both health workers and infrastructure.

News

President Tinubu Intervenes in Renewed Rivers State Crisis, Summons Wike

Published

19 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Nigerian Tracker

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

President Bola Tinubu has intervened to address the escalating political conflict in Rivers State, reportedly summoning the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, to a meeting abroad. This move comes amid renewed impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

The Impending Meeting

According to a top presidency source, the meeting is scheduled to take place in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, following the President’s visit to France. The source indicated that President Tinubu views the latest political maneuvers as a potential threat to stability.

“The President must see the danger in what Wike is doing. I am aware he has summoned him to a meeting in Dubai… Wike cannot impeach Fubara; the President will call him to order,” the source stated. The insider further warned that targeting the state’s first Ijaw governor could provoke unrest in the Niger Delta, with severe consequences for the national economy.

Renewed Impeachment Move

The crisis intensified on Thursday when 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, loyal to Minister Wike, initiated fresh impeachment proceedings against Governor Fubara and his Deputy, Professor Ngozi Odu.

The seven-count notice, read by Majority Leader Major Jack, accuses the governor of gross misconduct, including the demolition of the Assembly complex, extra-budgetary spending, and failure to comply with a Supreme Court ruling on legislative financial autonomy. Deputy Governor Odu faces allegations of reckless spending and obstructing the Assembly.

Speaker Martins Amaewhule defended the move as being “in the interest of Rivers State,” criticizing the governor for not presenting the 2026 budget.

This development shatters a fragile peace brokered by President Tinubu after a previous impeachment crisis led to a six-month state of emergency in March 2025. The truce collapsed shortly after emergency rule ended, with Wike accusing Fubara of reneging on agreements and vowing to block his second-term bid, despite both now being members of the All-Progressives Congress (APC).

While a presidential aide declined to confirm the foreign meeting, stating only Wike’s camp could do so, senior APC officials revealed growing party discontent.

A national leader confirmed plans to brief the President upon his return, noting that “some of our leaders believe Wike should have respected the President and the party because Fubara is now one of our governors.”

A member of the APC National Working Committee criticized Wike’s actions as “a show of disregard for the President, the APC, and national interest,” suggesting they project the President as weak.

An ally of Minister Wike denied his involvement in the impeachment plot, affirming that “Wike is the number one supporter of Mr President.” The ally confirmed the minister’s return to Abuja on Sunday but did not verify the meeting with Tinubu.

Former Senator Andrew Uchendu described the recurring crisis as “an embarrassment to the people of Rivers State” and called for an inclusive dialogue, urging the President to restore order.

News

Group Initiates Recall of Rivers Lawmakers Over Impeachment Move Against Fubara

Published

19 hours ago

January 10, 2026

Nigerian Tracker

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The Association of Legislative Drafting and Advocacy Practitioners (ALDRAP), a legal-focused civil society organisation, has formally commenced the process to recall 26 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly. This action follows the lawmakers’ signing of an impeachment notice against Governor Siminalayi Fubara on Thursday.

In a letter to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), ALDRAP’s Secretary, Tonye Jaja, requested certified true copies of the voter registers for all state constituencies in Rivers. The association claims that many of its members are constituents of these lawmakers and are legally entitled to initiate a recall.

“Notice of commencement of recall of Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and 25 other legislators of the House of Assembly who signed the impeachment notice dated 8th January 2026 and request for certified true copies (CTCs) of the voter register of all the state constituencies of the Rivers State House of Assembly,” the letter reads.

The letter explicitly cites a Supreme Court judgment from February 2025, which directed the State Assembly to collaborate peacefully with the Governor and resolve conflicts through amicable means. ALDRAP contends that by initiating impeachment proceedings, the legislators have resorted to “belligerent methods” in violation of this ruling.

“Contrary to the judgment of February 2025 of the Supreme Court of Nigeria that enjoined the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly to work in peaceful harmony with the Governor of Rivers State by exploring and exhausting amicable methods to resolve conflicts, the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly have once again initiated belligerent methods.”

Notably, the association highlighted that both the Governor and the lawmakers in question are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), suggesting internal party dispute resolution mechanisms should have been exhausted first.

“In light of the foregoing, as a public interest organisation of lawyers, the majority of whom are constituents of all state constituencies of the Rivers State House of Assembly, we hereby demand the aforementioned certified true copies (CTC) and put your Commission on notice,” the statement reads.

The impeachment notice, signed by legislators loyal to the former Governor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, accuses Governor Fubara and his deputy, Ngozi Odu, of gross misconduct and unauthorized spending.

This development marks a significant escalation in the ongoing political conflict between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, which has intensified in recent weeks. The move by ALDRAP introduces a new, legalistic dimension to the crisis, potentially subjecting the pro-Wike lawmakers to a direct challenge from their constituents.