By Robert Egbe
No fewer than 125.7 million Nigerians now have access to sugar fortified with vitamin, according to data presented yesterday at the 3rd Annual Nigeria Food Processing and Leadership Forum, chaired by Alhaji Aliko Dangote with Bill Gates.
In percentage terms, the number jumped from 31 percent of Nigerians to 96 percent between 2017 and 2020.
An additional 73.5 million now have access to wheat flour fortified with iron and folic acid, while 13.8 million have access to cooking oil fortified with vitamin A.
The data followed three years of leadership engagement by the federal government and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of the largest food processing companies in the country.
It showed that significant progress has been made fortifying Nigerian staple foods with micronutrients that are essential to achieving better health and nutrition.
The data, presented by international non-governmental organization TechnoServe, showed that companies have significantly improved their compliance with food fortification standards within the three years.
In a statement, TechnoServe said: “Together, these producers reach more than 90 percent of the Nigerian population. From 2017 to 2020, the population reached with wheat flour fortified with iron and folic acid increased from 54 percent to 92 percent; the population reached with sugar fortified with Vitamin A increased from 31 percent to 96 percent; and salt iodization levels were maintained at 95 percent.
Dangote, Chairman of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, lauded the progress and praised the private sector’s contribution.
He said: “The private sector remains the engine of growth for the Nigerian economy. By creating a common set of compliance standards, while also giving companies the tools they need to effectively fortify their foods, we are creating a sustainable path to delivering Nigerians food that will help them live healthier, more productive lives. Better nutrition for our consumers means better health and economic development for our nation.”
The efforts are part of the Strengthening African Processors of Fortified Foods (SAPFF) project focused on increasing consumer access to adequately fortified foods, implemented by TechnoServe with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
For Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, “Vitamin A is one of the most critical nutrients kids need to grow up healthy—but too few kids receive a sufficient amount in their diet.
“The world needs to fortify more foods with Vitamin A. The leaders in this meeting have already shown what’s possible for wheat flour, salt, and sugar. I hope that by the next time we meet, cooking oil will be added to the list.”
The forum also reviewed progress on the development of the Joint Regulatory Framework (JRF), which would coordinate the enforcement of industry activities by the National Agency for Food & Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), and the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
“If Nigeria is really serious about creating jobs, expanding its markets and growing its economy, nutrition and food systems should be put in the centre of the conversation” said Larry Umunna, West Africa Regional Director, TechnoServe.
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