FCT ADOPTS 2026/2027 NUTRITION WORK PLAN, STRENGTHENS DRIVE AGAINST MALNUTRITION

… Inaugurates FCT State Aid Diversion Committee

By: Prudence Okonna

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Administration has reaffirmed its commitment to combating malnutrition through stronger nutrition governance, enhanced accountability and multi-sectoral collaboration.

The commitment was made at the end of the three-day Second Quarter Meeting and Capacity Building Workshop of the FCT Committee on Food and Nutrition, with the adoption of the 2026/2027 Annual Work Plan of the FCT Committee on Food and Nutrition (FCT-CFN) held from 28th -30th July, 2026.

The workshop, organised by the Department of Food and Nutrition under the Economic Planning, Revenue Generation and Public Private Partnership Secretariat (EPRGPPPS) in collaboration with UNICEF, brought together representatives of FCT Secretariats, Departments and Agencies, Area Councils, development partners, civil society organisations and other nutrition stakeholders to strengthen nutrition governance and improve food and nutrition outcomes in the Territory.

Declaring the workshop open, the Mandate Secretary, EPRGPPPS and Chairman of the Committee, Arc. Ubokutom Nyah, reaffirmed the FCT Administration’s commitment to making nutrition a priority for improved health, human capital development and sustainable development.

The Mandate Secretary, who was represented by the Acting Permanent Secretary, Uba Bala, also inaugurated the FCT State Aid Diversion Committee to strengthen transparency and accountability in the management of nutrition resources and commodities.

The Acting Executive Secretary, FCT Primary Health Care Board (FCT-PHCB), Dr Dan Gadzama, emphasised that tackling malnutrition is central to improving health outcomes in the FCT, noting that addressing nutrition challenges could resolve over 70% of the territory’s health problems.

He stressed that nutrition is a multisectoral issue requiring strong collaboration among the health, agriculture, economic, social, and development sectors, while commending UNICEF and other partners for their continued support.

In her goodwill message, UNICEF representative Dr Chizoba Steve-Edemba encouraged the FCTA to leverage the Child Nutrition Fund to expand nutrition interventions.

Steve-Edemba also emphasised the need to strengthen domestic resource mobilisation and expand partnerships with the private sector and development partners.

Participants reviewed the nutrition situation in the FCT and identified inadequate financing, weak nutrition information systems, poor dietary practices and capacity gaps as major challenges requiring stronger political commitment, increased investment and coordinated action across sectors.

The meeting further underscored the importance of revitalising the FCT Home Grown School Feeding Programme, strengthening nutrition-sensitive interventions such as water, sanitation and hygiene, and enhancing strategic communication to improve public awareness and nutrition advocacy.

At the end of the meeting, the Committee adopted the draft 2026/2027 Annual Work Plan and resolved to strengthen nutrition governance, institutionalise nutrition structures across relevant Secretariats, Departments and Agencies, operationalise the Child Nutrition Fund in the FCT, improve accountability in the management of nutrition commodities and deepen collaboration among the health, agriculture, education and water sectors.

In his closing remarks, the Acting Permanent Secretary commended participants for their commitment and active contributions throughout the three-day workshop, urging them to translate the knowledge gained and resolutions reached into concrete actions within their respective institutions.

He called for sustained multi-sectoral collaboration, improved data-driven planning, transparency and accountability, while reaffirming the FCT Administration’s commitment to implementing the National Policy on Food and Nutrition in support of the Renewed Hope Agenda and improved nutrition outcomes for women, children and other vulnerable groups.