……..Says Government Procurement Must Drive Healthier Food Systems and Better Public Health Outcomes.
The Federal Government has launched the National Guidelines for Public Procurement of Food and Related Services, describing the initiative as a transformative policy that will reposition public procurement as a strategic instrument for improving nutrition, strengthening food systems, preventing diseases and advancing sustainable national development.
In his keynote address at the official launch held on Monday at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja, the Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, said the Guidelines represent a major governance milestone that aligns public procurement with national health, nutrition and economic development priorities.
Commenting on the theme, “Public Procurement of Food: Promoting a Culture of National Wellness Through the Food Value Chain,” Dr. Salako reiterated that every public procurement decision reflects a national priority and should no longer be viewed merely as a compliance exercise, but as a strategic policy tool capable of improving health outcomes, strengthening human capital and stimulating economic growth.
He described the launch as another demonstration of the Tinubu Administration’s whole-of-government approach to governance, stressing that sustainable improvements in health require strong collaboration among sectors responsible for procurement, agriculture, nutrition, health and economic planning.
Highlighting the growing burden of diet-related diseases, the Minister disclosed that unhealthy diets contribute to approximately 7.2 million deaths globally each year, while Nigerians consume an average of 3.9 grams of sodium daily, almost twice the World Health Organization’s recommended limit of 2 grams per day, identifying excessive consumption of industrial trans fats and sugar-sweetened beverages as major contributors to the increasing burden of cardiovascular diseases, obesity and diabetes.
According to him, Nigeria has already introduced important public health measures, including the National Guideline for Sodium Reduction, the Trans-Fatty Acid Regulation, and the Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax, to improve dietary habits and reduce the prevalence of non-communicable diseases.
Expressing concern over the country’s malnutrition burden, the Health Minister noted that almost half of under-five deaths are linked to malnutrition, citing threcent national survey findings showing that about four in every ten Nigerian children under five are stunted, while nearly two million children suffer severe acute malnutrition annually. He emphasized that these figures represent not only a health challenge but also a significant threat to Nigeria’s human capital, educational attainment, productivity and long-term economic growth.
Dr. Salako observed that government remains the country’s largest institutional purchaser of food and related services, making its procurement decisions critical in shaping food environments, influencing consumer behaviour, encouraging healthier food production and strengthening accountability across the food value chain.
He stressed that government procurement should not merely respond to market trends but actively shape them by demanding healthier, safer and more nutritious foods, thereby encouraging innovation and improved standards among food producers, processors and suppliers.
The Minister explained that the Guidelines establish evidence-based standards for public procurement by promoting balanced diets while setting appropriate limits for sodium, sugar and unhealthy fats. He said the initiative reinforces existing national policies on food safety, sodium reduction and trans-fat elimination, while supporting the Federal Government’s commitment to health promotion and disease prevention.
He reaffirmed that the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Initiative (NHSRII) recognises nutrition as one of the most important determinants of health throughout life and stressed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to Universal Health Coverage extends beyond expanding access to healthcare to creating healthier communities through preventive public policies.
Dr. Salako also highlighted ongoing health sector procurement reforms, including MediPool, which leverages government’s purchasing power to improve transparency, strengthen supply chains, reduce fragmentation and expand equitable access to quality health commodities. He said the same strategic procurement principles are now being extended to nutrition through the newly launched Guidelines.
Calling on procurement officers, accounting officers, chief executives and institutional heads across government, the Minister urged them to recognise procurement as a strategic governance function with direct implications for health, education, productivity, environmental sustainability and public trust.
He emphasized that the success of the Guidelines would depend not on their launch but on faithful implementation, rigorous monitoring and measurable results. According to him, the true impact will be reflected in healthier meals served across schools, hospitals, correctional centres, military formations and other public institutions, leading ultimately to measurable improvements in the health and wellbeing of Nigerians.
Dr. Salako commended the Bureau of Public Procurement for providing visionary leadership in developing the Guidelines and acknowledged the contributions of the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Resolve to Save Lives, development partners and technical experts whose collective efforts made the initiative possible, urging all stakeholders to move beyond policy adoption to coordinated implementation, ensuring that every procurement decision contributes meaningfully to building a healthier, more productive and prosperous Nigeria.
Signed
Ado Bako
Assistant Director, Information & Public Relations
13 July 2026.
