Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) has called on the chairmen of Bauchi, Dass and Alkaleri Local Government Areas to allocate more funds to nutrition programmes as part of efforts to tackle malnutrition and reduce child stunting across Bauchi State.
The appeal was made on Wednesday during an advocacy visit to the three councils, which are serving as pilot local government areas for the organisation’s nutrition intervention project in the state.
Speaking during the visit, CS-SUNN Senior Programme Officer, Kunle Ishola, expressed concern over the high prevalence of child stunting in Alkaleri Local Government Area, revealing that the council currently has a 46 per cent stunting rate.
He described the figure as alarming and stressed the need for increased investment in nutrition interventions to drastically reduce the burden of malnutrition among children.
According to him, the advocacy visit was designed to strengthen nutrition coordination at the local government level, encourage dedicated budgetary allocations for nutrition across relevant departments, and ensure the timely release of funds for nutrition-related activities.
Ishola said, “Over the years, greater attention had been paid to nutrition funding only at the state level, while local governments had received little attention.”
He, however, commended the three councils for successfully holding their first quarterly Local Government Committee on Food and Nutrition coordination meetings, in line with resolutions reached during the April 2026 training for local government nutrition stakeholders.
Expressing further concern over the situation in Alkaleri, Ishola said, “The high rate of child stunting in Alkaleri can no longer be accepted and calls for urgent action.”
Also speaking, the State Chairperson of CS-SUNN, Dabis Mwalike, urged the local government authorities to establish dedicated budget lines for nutrition programmes.
She said, “Set up dedicated budget lines for nutrition to ensure proper coordination and effective utilisation of such funds.”
Mwalike explained that the advocacy visit was also aimed at reviewing progress, tracking performance, and strengthening collaboration between CS-SUNN and the Local Government Committees on Food and Nutrition.
Responding on behalf of the Chairman of Bauchi Local Government Area, the Deputy Chairman, Alhaji Mahmood Babamaji, reaffirmed the council’s commitment to supporting nutrition initiatives.
He acknowledged the interventions of the Bauchi State Government and the local councils, particularly the distribution of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), noting that the programme had significantly reduced cases of severe and acute malnutrition in the area.
Also speaking, the Director of Primary Health Care, Sulaiman Abdu Kirfi, disclosed that the council had integrated nutrition into its 2026 and 2027 planning and budgeting processes.
According to him, the Budget and Planning Department has worked closely with relevant departments to ensure nutrition-related activities are captured in the annual budget estimates.
Kirfi added that every department has a responsibility in improving nutrition outcomes, stressing that regular meetings of the Local Government Committees on Food and Nutrition remain critical to coordinating nutrition interventions across different sectors.
In Dass Local Government Area, the Director of Budget, whose name was not disclosed, revealed that the council had earmarked ₦150 million for nutrition activities in the 2027 fiscal year to strengthen nutrition interventions.
Similarly, the Chairman of Alkaleri Local Government Area, represented by the Director of Administration, appreciated the CS-SUNN delegation for the advocacy visit and assured the organisation of the council’s continued support.
However, the Director of Primary Health Care in Alkaleri raised concerns over the shortage of Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) for children under the age of five as well as pregnant and lactating mothers.
He said, “Supplies received from the state government had been exhausted.”
