The Kaduna State Committee on Food and Nutrition says it will push for higher allocation for ministries, departments and agencies in the 2025 budget.

The chairman of the SCFN, Bashir Muhammad, said this while speaking to journalists at a two-day second-quarter review and coordination meeting of the committee at the state’s Planning and Budget Commission in Kaduna.

The second quarter review and coordination meeting was supported by ‘Alive & Thrive’, a global nutrition initiative for improving the health and well-being of women, children and adolescents.

Mr Muhammad, also the PBC permanent secretary, said that members would look at the challenges after the second quarter review meeting.

He said that some MDAs in the state do not have budgetary provisions for nutrition activities.

“We will make those provisions in the nutrition line for MDAs so that for 2025, they can address malnutrition using their budget,” he said.

The chairman said the quarterly meeting focused on updates on MDAs’ nutrition interventions, orienting stakeholders on Multi-Micronutrient Supplements and their importance, and fostering partnerships for coordinated scaling-up of nutrition initiatives and reviewing performance management appraisal.

He noted that the committee meets with all Kaduna stakeholders every quarter to discuss malnutrition’s menace. He also stressed the urgency of addressing malnutrition in Kaduna.

Mr Muhammad mentioned the issues surrounding malnutrition, including stunting and wasting. He also explained that when the stakeholders make their presentations, the committee will look into the success stories of achieving targets to reduce malnutrition in the state and then discover the challenges.

He said that the committee would expand its membership to incorporate additional MDAs like the Livestock Regulatory Commission to bolster nutrition efforts.

Mr Muhammad said the committee needs to bring onboard the Livestock Regulatory Commission to tell the committee what they are doing in the state and how every agency in the SCFN can collaborate with them to reduce the menace of food and nutrition in Kaduna.

(NAN)