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The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations has raised concerns over the high rate of malnutrition in North Eastern Nigeria, revealing that 3.7 million children in the region are stunted, wasted, or anaemic.
This is according to a statement shared via email with our correspondent by FAO’s Communication Specialist, David Tsokar, on Thursday.
This statistic was disclosed during a high-level roundtable discussion convened by the Government of Borno State in collaboration with FAO to scale up the production and utilisation of the Tom Brown initiative.
The event, held at the UN House in Abuja on Wednesday, brought together representatives of federal ministries, donors, UN agencies, and NGOs, reaffirming their commitment to addressing food insecurity in the region.
According to the Northeast Nutrition Sector, represented by the Nutrition Sector Coordinator, John Mukisa, “an alarming 3.7 million children in northeastern Nigeria are stunted, wasted, or anaemic. Investments in low-cost, innovative, and locally sourced solutions such as Tom Brown could save the Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe States an estimated USD 120 million annually.”
The roundtable was held against the backdrop of a worsening food crisis in Nigeria, as recent Cadre Harmonisé figures indicate that 25 million Nigerians are currently food insecure—a number projected to rise to 33.1 million across 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory between June and August 2025.
Borno State Commissioner of Health and Human Services, Professor Baba Gana, stressed the urgency of combating malnutrition, stating, “Nigeria continues to bear one of the highest burdens of malnutrition globally. This reality underscores the urgency of our gathering today. It is imperative that we adopt innovative, community-driven approaches to combat malnutrition and ensure food security. Tom Brown has demonstrated remarkable effectiveness in addressing malnutrition, particularly among vulnerable groups such as children under five and lactating mothers.”
The FAO Representative ad interim, Koffy Dominique Kouacou, emphasised the broader benefits of the initiative, saying, “Scaling up Tom Brown will not only meet urgent nutritional needs but also create livelihood opportunities, strengthen local markets, and generate revenue for regional development. To bring this vision to life, we need partnership, expertise, and resources. Beyond figures and policies, we must remember the human faces behind the statistics—the children whose lives we can save, the families we can uplift, and the communities we can transform.”
The Governor of Borno State, Babagana Zulum, underscored the economic potential of Tom Brown, stating, “The production and commercialization of Tom Brown will attract investment from the private sector, boosting state revenue and positioning Borno as a leader in nutrition-sensitive agriculture.”
Stakeholders at the roundtable deliberated on the challenges and opportunities in scaling up Tom Brown production, with a focus on establishing a dedicated production facility in Borno State. The meeting resulted in a draft roadmap outlining expansion efforts, including strategies to sustain the initiative.
Tom Brown, a nutrient-dense food made from locally available ingredients, has been recognized as an effective intervention in reducing malnutrition and preventing relapse by up to 35 per cent among children discharged from UNICEF and WFP-supported nutrition centres.
FAO has also enhanced the product with fish protein, which has been distributed as emergency nutritional assistance to flood-affected families.
FAO and the Borno State Government have called on donors, government agencies, private sector investors, and humanitarian organizations to support the initiative.
“Scaling up Tom Brown production in Borno State and beyond has the potential to significantly reduce malnutrition and improve food security for the most vulnerable populations across Nigeria,” the FAO statement added.
