‘12 million Nigerian children suffering from stunted growth’

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has raised the alarm that no fewer than 12 million Nigerian children are suffering from stunted growth.

The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muhammed Nanono, said the 12 million children who were too short for their  ages   were 37 per cent nationally .

The Minister, who was represented by his Special Adviser, Dr Adeyinka Onabolu, said this in Abeokuta, Ogun State, during a meeting with  a team led by the Ogun State  Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Samson Odedina,  on ways to end malnutrition through agriculture  in the country.

Nanono said the Federal Government was making efforts to reduce malnutrition “by promoting nutrition and food security.”

Onabolu also agreed with the minister that the children with stunted growth were 37 per cent nationally.

He said, “The rate that the child being too lean for his age is 7.1 per cent; those two are critical. About 12 million children have stunted growth.

“It is not only agric that can bring down this alarming figures, it is in collaboration with other sectors. For example if you feed a child in a right way and the child is given dirty water to drink, that child will develop  diarrhea, wipes off every investment you have made on that child.”

Onabolu said Ogun State was part of the states chosen to address the challenges of abnormal growth through agriculture.