Opinion
Child Wasting And Nigeria’s Economy
The National Stadium, now Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja has a 60,000-sitting capacity. Whenever the facility is filled to full capacity by people, it is not only easily noticed but referred to or tagged ‘ocean of humanity’ which is just a one-off fill. Now, imagine how it will look like where the filled stadium is reproduced to 50 in number to accommodate three million people. It means that a large expanse of land in Abuja will have to go, to adequately contain the number. This scenario, I believe will assist greatly to humanely feel the estimated three million children in Nigeria, according to statistics, facing acute wasting. Possibly, many people have never heard of wasting. Be that as it may, wasting is one of the underlying causes of preventable deaths in young children. Wasting is also known as ‘severe acute malnutrition’. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), some of its physical characteristics are ‘low weight-for-height’; low height for age’, and ‘low weight for age’.
It often indicates severe weight loss, and usually occurs when a person has not had food of adequate quality and quantity and/or they have had frequent or prolonged illnesses. These may give insights on the undesirable body growth and development in height, weight including overweight and underweight. By its causes, it is obvious that a high number of children will be victims on account of ignorance, neglect and poverty in the country if adequate interventions are not urgently invoked. According to the National Nutrition and Health Survey (2018), National Population Commission 2022 estimates (2020), Nutrition and Food Security Surveillance Round-10 in BAY states (2021), an acronym for Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states, and Rapid SMART Survey (Standardised Monitoring and Assessment of Relief and Transitions) in North West (2021), “most of the burden of malnutrition, for both stunting and wasting lies in the north – both the east and the west where one in two children is stunted.
Of the estimated 14 million children who are stunted in Nigeria, seven million are in the North West. And similarly, of the estimated three million children wasted, one million are in the North West” . This record certainly highlights the need to up the game in the North West. Although the rate is higher in the said area, it is not zero percent in other regions and states, and therefore, they should not be overlooked in a rescue plan. A Nutrition Officer at the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, Nkeiru Enwelum, during a media dialogue in Port Harcourt recently, bemoaned the repercussions of neglect to nutrition in the society vis-à-vis dangerous effects to the individuals, population at large and also the economy. Enwelum meticulously, categorically gave insights on the needed responses towards salvaging the predicaments as well as the target partnering sectors in government.
“Wasting and malnutrition in general, negatively affect the economy because at the individual level, children who are malnourished do not do well in school, have reduced brain, physical comity development and so, are not likely to do very well in school, and that translates to reduced economic potential. At a population level, wasting and malnutrition in general contribute to increased expenditures on healthcare.”
On the economy, it reduces the gross domestic product (GDP) of a country. Research has shown that countries lose significant amounts in GDP due to wasting and malnutrition, thus this is the reason nutrition and prevention of malnutrition amount to a significant issue that must be addressed because we want healthier populations that can perform optimally and contribute to the growth, development of the country. We also want individuals who are well-adjusted, who grow well and happier and healthier.
“This in general, makes nutrition a most sectoral issue that must be solved by all partners, sectors. Across all sectors, we need Ministries of Health and Social Welfare; Agriculture and Food Security; Budget and Economic Planning; Women Affairs; Water Resources and Sanitation; Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, and the likes to join hands in this essential cogent project. These sectors have critical roles to play in ensuring that the rate of malnutrition in the country is drastically reduced, and one of the most practical ways to achieve this is by ensuring more budget and financial allocation to nutrition. “In summary, government must create budget lines for nutrition to adequately execute nutrition prevention and treatment programmes and interventions.
Thus, the catchword: “More money for nutrition; more nutrition for the money”. It is apposite that when we have more money for nutrition, we will have more nutrition for the money in terms of a healthier, happier, well-adjusted and more productive population”, the UNICEF Nutrition Officer elaborated. Why is good nutrition important? For a better understanding, compare the body to a house. It is indisputable that standard houses start with a plan and a blue-print. Builder interprets blue-print. They ideally choose building materials carefully. Substitutions may occur if some materials are unavailable. Buildings that would last, and in good condition, need regular maintenance.The “plan” for the body is in the DNA. All the “building materials” come from food and water, and these building materials are called nutrients. When the body does not get the right nutrients it needs, substitution occurs, which leads to negative consequences.
The body must get the right nutrients at every stage of life to be able to develop and grow properly including the brain. According to Sarris et al., 2015, the human brain operates at a very high metabolic rate, using a substantial portion of the body’s total energy and nutrient intake. Suffice it to say that nutrition is a compelling issue that must be accorded optimum attention by the government for growth and development of a healthier and productive population, and no responsible government should wait to be pushed to do the needful considering that it costs a whole lot more to cure malnutrition than its prevention.
By: Carl Umegboro
Umegboro, a public affairs analyst and social advocate writes from Abuja.
Opinion
Restoring Order, Delivering Good Governance
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
Opinion
Checking Herdsmen Rampage
Do the Fulani herdsmen have an expansionists agenda, like their progenitor, Uthman Dan Fodio? Why are they everywhere even the remotest part of other areas in Nigeria harassing, maiming, raping and killing the owners of the land?”
In a swift reaction, The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) decried and strongly condemned the invasion by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
In his denunciation, MOSOP President Fegalo Nsuke described the incident as very unfortunate and deeply troubling, warning against a recurrence of the violence experienced in Benue State. “The killing of yesterday is bad and very unfortunate. We are getting preliminary information about how the herders gained access to the farmland, and it appears some hoodlums may be collecting money and granting access illegally.”
He called on the Hausa community in Rivers State to intervene swiftly to prevent further attacks.
“We want the Hausa community in Rivers State to take urgent action to ensure these issues are resolved”.
But will such appeal and requests end the violent disposition of the Fulani herdsmen? It is not saying something new that the escalating threat and breach of peace across the country by the Fulani herdsmen or those suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, leaves much to be desired in a country that is bedevilled by multi-dimensional challenges and hydra-headed problems.
Some upland Local Government Areas of Rivers State, such as Etche, Omuma, Emohua, Ikwerre, Oyigbo, Abua, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, have severally recounted their ordeals, as herdsmen invaded farmlands, destroyed crops, raped female farmers and killed protestant residents.
Again the wanton destruction of lives and properties which no doubt has overwhelmed the Nigerian Police, makes the clamour for State Police, indispensable. The National Assembly should consider the amendment of the Constitution to allow States to have their Statutory policing agencies.
Opinion
Is Nigeria Democratic Nation?
As insurgency has risen to an all time high in the country were killings has now grown to be a normal daily activity in some part of the nation it may not be safe to say that Nigeria still practices democracy.
Several massacres coming from the Boko Haram and the herdsmen amongst all other insurgencies which have led to the destruction of homes and killing, burning of communities especially in the northern part of the country. All these put together are result of the ethnic battles that are fought between the tribes of Nigeria and this can be witnessed in Benue State where herders and farmers have been in constant clashes for ages. They have experienced nothing but casualties and unrest.
In the month of June 13-14, the Yelwata attack at the Guma Local Government Area by suspected gunmen or herdsmen who stormed the houses of innocent IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) claiming the lives of families, both adults and children estimated to be 200 victims. They were all burnt alive by these unknown gunmen.
This has been recorded as one of the deadliest insurgencies that had happened in recent years. Some security personnel that were trying to fight the unknown gunmen also lost their lives.
Prior to the Yelewata attack, two days before the happening, similar conflict took place in Makurdi on June 11, 2025. 25 people were killed in the State. Even in Plateau State and the Southern Kaduna an attack also took place in the month of June.
All other states that make up the Middle Belt have been experiencing the farmers/herders clash for years now and it has persisted up till recent times, claiming lives of families and children, homes and lands, escalating in 2025 with coordinated assaults.
Various authorities and other villagers who fled for safety also blamed the herdsmen in the State for the attack that happened in Yelwata community.
Ehebha God’stime is an Intern with The Tide.
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