The Federal Government has launched the National Guidelines for Public Procurement of Food and Related Services, a policy aimed at promoting healthy diets, improving nutrition, reducing diet-related diseases and strengthening food systems across the country.
Speaking at the official launch held on Monday at the NAF Conference Centre in Abuja, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, described the initiative as a major policy intervention that will reposition public procurement as a strategic tool for advancing public health, national wellness and sustainable development.
The minister said the guidelines align government food procurement practices with national health, nutrition and economic priorities, noting that public institutions have a critical role to play in shaping healthier food environments.
Speaking on the theme, “Public Procurement of Food: Promoting a Culture of National Wellness Through the Food Value Chain,” Salako said procurement decisions should no longer be viewed merely as administrative processes but as strategic instruments capable of improving health outcomes and stimulating economic growth.
“Every public procurement decision reflects a national priority. It should not be seen simply as a compliance exercise but as a powerful policy tool for improving health outcomes, strengthening human capital and driving economic development,” he said.
According to the minister, the launch further demonstrates the Tinubu administration’s whole-of-government approach to governance, stressing that meaningful health outcomes can only be achieved through collaboration among institutions responsible for health, agriculture, nutrition, procurement and economic planning.
Salako raised concerns over the increasing burden of diet-related diseases in Nigeria and globally, revealing that unhealthy diets contribute to an estimated 7.2 million deaths worldwide annually.
He also disclosed that Nigerians consume an average of 3.9 grams of sodium daily, nearly double the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended limit of 2 grams per day.
“Excessive consumption of sodium, industrial trans fats and sugar-sweetened beverages continues to fuel the rising prevalence of cardiovascular diseases, obesity and diabetes,” the minister said.
He noted that the Federal Government had already introduced several public health measures to address the challenge, including the National Guideline for Sodium Reduction, the Trans-Fatty Acid Regulation, and the Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax.
The minister also highlighted Nigeria’s persistent malnutrition crisis, describing it as a major threat to the country’s health and economic future.
According to him, almost half of deaths among children under the age of five are linked to malnutrition, while recent national survey findings indicate that about four out of every 10 Nigerian children under five are stunted.
He added that nearly two million Nigerian children suffer severe acute malnutrition annually.“These statistics are not merely health indicators; they represent a serious threat to our human capital development, educational attainment, workforce productivity and long-term economic growth,” Salako said.
The minister noted that government remains the country’s largest institutional purchaser of food and related services, making its procurement decisions a powerful tool for influencing food production, consumer behaviour and nutrition outcomes.
He said the new guidelines would establish evidence-based standards for food procurement across public institutions by promoting balanced diets and setting limits for sodium, sugar and unhealthy fats in publicly funded meals.
“Government procurement should not merely respond to market trends; it should actively shape them by demanding healthier, safer and more nutritious foods.
This will encourage innovation and higher standards among food producers, processors and suppliers,” he said.
Salako explained that the guidelines complement existing government policies on food safety, sodium reduction and the elimination of trans fats, while reinforcing broader efforts to prevent non-communicable diseases and promote healthier lifestyles.
He further stated that nutrition remains a key pillar of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) and forms part of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to achieve Universal Health Coverage.
According to him, President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to healthcare extends beyond access to medical services and includes policies designed to create healthier communities through prevention and improved nutrition.
The minister also highlighted ongoing reforms in health sector procurement, including the MediPool initiative, which seeks to improve transparency, strengthen supply chains, reduce fragmentation and expand access to quality health commodities through pooled procurement mechanisms.
“The same strategic procurement principles driving MediPool are now being applied to nutrition through these new guidelines,” he said.
Salako urged procurement officers, accounting officers, chief executives and heads of public institutions to treat procurement as a strategic governance function with direct implications for health, education, productivity and public trust.
He stressed that the success of the initiative would be measured not by the launch itself but by effective implementation and tangible outcomes.
“The real test of these guidelines will be seen in healthier meals served in schools, hospitals, correctional centres, military formations and other public institutions, ultimately translating into better health outcomes for Nigerians,” he said.
The minister commended the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) for leading the development of the guidelines and acknowledged the contributions of the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Resolve to Save Lives, development partners and technical experts involved in the process.
He called on all stakeholders to move beyond policy adoption and ensure coordinated implementation of the guidelines, emphasizing that every procurement decision should contribute to building a healthier, more productive and prosperous Nigeria.
