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Nigeria’s largely invisible nutrition crisis is quietly eroding the country’s economic potential, with experts warning that widespread deficiencies in folate (vitamin B9) and vitamin B12 are driving preventable birth defects, poor cognitive development, lower educational outcomes and reduced workforce productivity.

Nutrition specialists are now urging the federal government to make the fortification of bouillon cubes with folic acid and vitamin B12 mandatory, describing the measure as one of the country’s most cost-effective public health investments and a critical step toward building a healthier and more productive population.

Their call comes as Nigeria records an estimated 7.5 million births every year, with about 11,000 babies born annually with neural tube defects (NTDs), serious congenital abnormalities of the brain and spinal cord that are strongly linked to folate deficiency. Scientific evidence shows that adequate folic acid intake before conception and during early pregnancy can reduce the risk of these defects by as much as 70 percent.

Experts say the economic consequences extend far beyond hospitals.

Children born with preventable neural tube defects often require lifelong medical care, repeated surgeries, rehabilitation and specialised support. Those costs are borne not only by families but also by the healthcare system and the wider economy through reduced educational attainment, lower labour productivity and lost human capital.

‘As Nigeria seeks to accelerate economic growth and human capital development, addressing hidden hunger must become a national priority. A healthier population is a more productive population,’ nutrition experts said

Neural tube defects are the second most common congenital neurological abnormalities in Nigeria. They include spina bifida, where the spinal cord does not develop properly; anencephaly, a severe underdevelopment of the brain that is usually fatal; and encephalocele, in which brain tissue protrudes through an opening in the skull.

While some children born with neural tube defects survive into adulthood with specialised care, others die shortly after birth or live with permanent disabilities that place enormous emotional and financial burdens on their families.

Health experts argue that many of these cases could be prevented if women receive adequate folic acid before conception and during the first four weeks of pregnancy, a period when many women are not yet aware they are pregnant.

That is why nutrition advocates are pushing for the mandatory fortification of bouillon cubes, one of the most widely consumed food products in Nigeria.

Unlike supplements, which depend on women accessing healthcare and remembering to take them daily, fortified bouillon cubes would deliver folic acid and vitamin B12 through a food already consumed in virtually every household, regardless of income or geography.

Dr. Jamila Lawal, a Nigerian nutritionist and public health expert, said fortifying foods that people already consume every day is a proven public health strategy.

‘What is wrong with fortifying the food people are already eating? We already fortify several staple foods. Nobody argues that flour should stop being fortified with vitamin A simply because some people choose not to eat bread. Bouillon cubes are part of our food culture and are consumed in almost every household. They are an appropriate vehicle for delivering folic acid, especially for women before and during pregnancy,’ Lawal said.

She said reliance on folic acid tablets alone has not delivered the desired public health outcomes because many women either begin taking supplements too late or do not take them consistently.

‘Fortification does not replace supplementation. It complements it by ensuring women receive essential nutrients through their everyday diet,’ she said.

Olusola Malomo, assistant director dietetics Lagos State Health Service Commission, General Hospital, Badagry, agreed that fortification could significantly reduce neural tube defects but warned that strict regulatory oversight would be essential.

‘If this initiative is meant to tackle neural tube defects in children, then it is a good one. Government must ensure that the right quantity of folic acid is added to the bouillon cubes so women are neither getting too little nor too much. Regulators must also verify that manufacturers are adding the correct vitamins, not just changing the flavour,’ Malomo said.

He urged manufacturers to conduct rigorous scientific testing before launching fortified products and called for nationwide awareness campaigns to educate women about the importance of taking folic acid before conception and during the first eight weeks of pregnancy.

To address concerns over sodium intake from seasoning cubes, Malomo suggested manufacturers could also develop fortified variants specifically targeted at women planning pregnancy and pregnant women.

The push for mandatory fortification is supported by growing scientific evidence.

A landmark Condiment Micronutrient Innovation Trial (CoMIT), involving more than 2,000 women and children in Ghana, found that bouillon cubes fortified with folic acid and vitamin B12 significantly improved blood levels of both nutrients across different population groups. Researchers concluded that bouillon is an effective vehicle for delivering essential micronutrients at population scale in West Africa, where household consumption is nearly universal.

Nigeria introduced voluntary standards for bouillon fortification in September 2024, allowing manufacturers to add folic acid, vitamin B12, iron, zinc and iodine. However, experts say voluntary adoption has been too slow to produce meaningful nationwide impact.

More than 40 percent of Nigerian women of reproductive age are estimated to have inadequate folate intake, while vitamin B12 deficiency remains common among low-income households with limited access to animal-source foods.

For nutrition experts, the debate is no longer about whether fortification works but whether policymakers are prepared to act.

With Nigeria striving to improve human capital and meet global nutrition targets by 2030, they argue that mandatory bouillon fortification is no longer simply a health intervention, it is an economic strategy capable of protecting future generations while reducing avoidable healthcare costs and strengthening the country’s long-term productivity.

As Nigeria’s opposition weighs alliances ahead of the 2027 presidential election, Abdullahi Ganduje,former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has sought to puncture growing speculation over a possible Peter Obi-Rabiu Kwankwaso presidential ticket, declaring the proposed alliance ‘dead on arrival’ in Kano State and arguing that neither politician has the governance record or political strength to unseat the ruling party.

Speaking with journalists on Tuesday, the former Kano State governor said the ticket would struggle to gain support in Kano, one of Nigeria’s most politically significant states, insisting that both Obi and Kwankwaso lacked the leadership credentials needed to convince voters they could effectively govern the country.

‘I don’t think Peter Obi and Kwankwaso’s ticket will succeed in Kano. It will not succeed. In fact, it is dead on arrival,’ Ganduje said.

He questioned Obi’s performance during his tenure as governor of Anambra State, arguing that the former Labour Party presidential candidate failed to leave behind a legacy that would justify another bid for Nigeria’s highest office.

‘Peter Obi was a governor in the South-East geopolitical zone, a governor in Anambra State. What did he do as a governor? What legacy did he leave as a governor?’ Ganduje asked.

He also challenged Obi’s post-governorship public service record, saying there was little evidence that he had demonstrated the capacity to manage a country as complex as Nigeria.

‘And from that, what other responsibility in governance did he hold that he made a mark to the extent that we believe he will be able to manage this country effectively and efficiently?’ he said.

Turning to Kwankwaso, Ganduje argued that the former Kano State governor’s political record did not compare favourably with those of other recent governors in the state, pointing to his inability to secure two consecutive terms in office.

‘Kwankwaso too, he was a governor of Kano State. He was not able to be a governor back-to-back,’ Ganduje said.

According to him, both former governor Ibrahim Shekarau and himself governed Kano for two uninterrupted terms, while Kwankwaso returned to office only after spending eight years out of power.

‘So far, the two other governors in Kano were able to win elections back-to-back. Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau was able to spend eight years straight. Myself, I was able to spend eight years straight. But he was not able, after the first term, until after eight years, then he was able to come back,’ he said.

Ganduje further argued that Kwankwaso had not established a governance legacy capable of persuading Kano residents or Nigerians that he would be an effective vice-president.

‘So I don’t think, even in Kano, what legacy specifically can you say that he has left in Kano that will convince the people of Kano, will convince the people of Nigeria that he will be a successful vice-president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?’ he added.

‘I think that, as I earlier said, it is dead on arrival.’

Ganduje’s comments come as political consultations and coalition talks continue ahead of the 2027 general election, with opposition figures exploring possible alliances that could consolidate votes against the APC. Although neither Obi nor Kwankwaso has formally announced a joint presidential ticket under the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), speculation over a potential partnership has intensified in recent weeks, reflecting the fluid nature of Nigeria’s pre-election political landscape.

The House of Representatives on Wednesday ordered an investigation into allegations of financial misconduct and operational abuses involving the Mining Marshals, including claims that more than N2 billion was discovered in the bank account of one of the outfit’s State Commanders.

The Green Chamber also directed a probe into the funding of the specialised security unit, amid concerns over its legal framework, budgetary transparency and compliance with existing laws.

The resolution followed the adoption of a motion sponsored by Abdulmaleek Danga, who questioned the operations of the Mining Marshals, a security outfit established by the Federal Government to combat illegal mining.

Moving the motion, Danga recalled that the Mining Marshals were inaugurated on March 21, 2024, by the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals Development in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Interior.

According to him, the unit comprises more than 2,200 officers drawn from the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and was created pursuant to Section 3 of the NSCDC Act and the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007.

He explained that the Marshals were established to protect mining sites, tackle illegal mining, address insecurity in mining communities and safeguard government revenue from the solid minerals sector.

However, he alleged that the unit had strayed from those objectives.

‘The House is concerned by reports indicating a deviation from this mandate, characterised by allegations that the Mining Marshals lack deep operational knowledge of the mining sector, resulting in the wrongful apprehension and harassment of legitimate mineral title holders while misrepresenting these actions to the public as successful crackdowns on illegal operators,’ Danga said.

The lawmaker further alleged that the unit was embroiled in serious financial misconduct.

‘The House is also concerned by grave allegations of financial impropriety within the unit, specifically the reported discovery of over N2bn in the bank account of a State Commander of the Mining Marshals,’ he said.

Danga claimed that rather than facing prosecution or disciplinary measures, the officer was merely transferred, raising questions about accountability.

‘The House is worried that instead of a formal judicial inquiry, prosecution, or internal disciplinary action, the said Commander was merely redeployed, fuelling allegations that the Marshals are being compromised by affluent illegal mining syndicates,’ he stated.

He also faulted the manner in which the unit’s operations are financed, pointing to the acquisition of operational vehicles without any publicly known legislative appropriation.

‘The House is disturbed by the lack of fiscal transparency surrounding the unit, notably the recent procurement and allocation of operational vehicles to the Marshals without a clear record of legislative appropriation or budgetary allocation from the parent agency, thereby exposing the unit to extrabudgetary expenditure,’ he said.

Danga warned that the alleged irregularities threaten efforts to develop the solid minerals sector and attract investment.

‘The House is convinced that these operational and financial anomalies directly undermine Nigeria’s economic interests, resulting in mineral revenue leakages, heightened insecurity, and a deterioration of investor confidence in the solid minerals sector,’ Danga added.

Following the adoption of the motion, the House mandated its Committee on Solid Minerals Development to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the activities of the Mining Marshals across the country.

The committee is expected to determine whether the outfit is operating within its statutory mandate, investigate the alleged N2 billion linked to a former State Commander and any related cases across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, and examine the source of funding for operational vehicles and other expenditures.

Lawmakers also tasked the panel with reviewing the legal basis for the establishment of the Mining Marshals, its organisational structure and compliance with extant laws, while recommending a legally compliant and internationally acceptable security framework for the protection of Nigeria’s mining assets.

The committee was given four weeks to submit its findings for further legislative action.

The Mining Marshals were established by the Federal Government in March 2024 as a specialised security unit to tackle illegal mining, which has long undermined government revenue, worsened environmental degradation and contributed to insecurity in mineral-producing communities.

Illegal mining remains prevalent in states including Zamfara, Niger, Nasarawa, Plateau and Kaduna, where criminal syndicates have been accused of exploiting Nigeria’s mineral resources outside regulatory oversight while denying the government significant revenue.

The Nigerian economy appears to be sending encouraging signals, at least on paper. Gross domestic product is growing, inflation is significantly lower than its 2024 peak, external reserves have strengthened, the naira has become relatively more stable, and international financial institutions are cautiously optimistic about the nation’s prospects.

Meanwhile, outside official reports and economic forecasts, many Nigerians ask a simple question: Where are the benefits?

For millions of households, life has not become easier. Food prices remain painfully high, electricity is unreliable, transport fares continue to rise, rents have become unaffordable, businesses are closing under the weight of operating costs, and unemployment remains widespread. And the disconnect between macroeconomic indicators and the daily reality of citizens is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

Economic statistics are important because they help policymakers measure progress. But statistics alone do not feed families, create jobs or restore purchasing power. The true measure of economic success is whether ordinary citizens can live with dignity, afford basic necessities and have confidence that tomorrow will be better.

This is where the government must now shift its focus. The painful reforms introduced over the past two years, including the removal of the fuel subsidy and the liberalisation of the foreign exchange market, were presented as necessary sacrifices that would eventually produce a stronger economy. Nigerians accepted these explanations with the expectation that the hardship would be temporary.

What they now seek is evidence that those sacrifices are beginning to translate into improved living conditions.

Growth of around 4 percent means little to a trader whose daily sales have fallen because customers can no longer afford basic goods. Lower inflation is cold comfort to workers whose salaries have remained unchanged while the prices of food, transportation and housing remain far above what they were before the reforms.

Indeed, inflation may be slowing statistically, but prices are not returning to previous levels. A bag of rice that doubled in price does not become affordable simply because the rate of increase has slowed. What matters to consumers is affordability, not merely the pace at which prices are rising.

The same applies to exchange-rate stability. A relatively stable naira is welcome, but it will have limited meaning if manufacturers still battle high energy costs, importers struggle with expensive financing, and consumers cannot afford locally produced goods.

The government must therefore move beyond celebrating macroeconomic stability and concentrate on microeconomic recovery.

The first priority should be lowering the cost of living, which requires addressing the structural drivers of inflation, especially electricity shortages, poor transportation infrastructure, insecurity and food supply disruptions. These are the factors keeping production costs high and pushing prices beyond the reach of ordinary Nigerians.

Also, job creation must become the centrepiece of economic policy. Growth that benefits only financial markets or a few sectors cannot sustain public confidence. Agriculture, manufacturing, construction and small businesses should receive stronger support because they employ the largest number of Nigerians.

Likewise, security remains an economic issue. Farmers cannot cultivate their land in fear, transporters cannot move goods safely, and investors cannot commit long-term capital where insecurity persists.

There is also growing concern over increased government spending ahead of the 2027 elections. While election-related expenditure may stimulate short-term economic activity, history shows that excessive political spending often fuels inflation, increases public borrowing and diverts attention from long-term development priorities.

The government must resist the temptation to sacrifice economic discipline for political advantage. Nigerians would rather see more investment in power, roads, healthcare, education and food production than another cycle of politically motivated spending.

Perhaps most importantly, government communication must become more people-centred. Citizens are not inspired by rankings that restore Nigeria as Africa’s fourth-largest economy if their own household finances continue to deteriorate. They judge economic performance by what they experience every day (availability of electricity, affordable food, whether businesses are growing and meaningful employment).

The administration deserves recognition for pursuing difficult reforms that previous governments repeatedly postponed. Nevertheless, reforms cannot be considered successful until their benefits are widely shared.

Nigerians are not asking for miracles but for an economy that works. They want stable electricity that reduces business costs. They want secure farms that lower food prices. They want decent jobs that restore purchasing power. They want roads that facilitate commerce, hospitals that provide quality care and schools that prepare their children for the future.

In the end, the most important economic index is not GDP growth, inflation or external reserves. It is the well-being of the average Nigerian. When citizens begin to feel genuine relief in their pockets, businesses and homes, then the numbers will finally tell a story everyone can believe.

As Nigeria grapples with high youth unemployment and the growing demand for digital skills in an increasingly technology-driven economy, the Lagos State Government has unveiled the Renewed Hope Creative and Innovative Hub, a new initiative aimed at equipping young people with the skills, mentorship and entrepreneurial support needed to build sustainable businesses and compete in the future workforce.

The initiative, championed by Idris Aregbe, the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Tourism, Arts and Culture, is designed to empower young Nigerians through digital innovation, skills acquisition, business incubation and leadership development, positioning them to create jobs rather than seek them.

Announcing the launch of the hub on Tuesday, Aregbe described the initiative as a strategic investment in human capital that aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda while complementing the Lagos State Government’s THEMES+ development agenda, which prioritises economic growth, innovation and youth empowerment.

According to him, the platform is intended to bridge the gap between talent and opportunity by providing young people with access to practical training, mentorship, entrepreneurship support and collaborative opportunities across the creative and technology sectors.

‘The Renewed Hope Creative and Innovative Hub is built for the young and the vibrant dreamers and the doers. Through skills acquisition, mentorship, entrepreneurship and digital innovation, we will nurture the next generation of leaders, creators and changemakers,’ Aregbe said.

He noted that participants would receive hands-on training in digital and creative skills, leadership development and business management, while benefiting from networking opportunities and partnerships that can help transform innovative ideas into commercially viable enterprises.

Aregbe said the initiative is expected to promote self-reliance, reduce youth unemployment and stimulate enterprise development by creating pathways to employment and entrepreneurship for young Nigerians.

‘Our goal is to equip young people to become self-reliant, build sustainable livelihoods and contribute meaningfully to the development of Lagos State and Nigeria. Talent is everywhere, but opportunity must be deliberately created,’ he said.

He described the hub as more than a physical facility, saying it represents a long-term commitment to nurturing entrepreneurs, innovators and creative professionals capable of driving economic transformation.

Aregbe also commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for sustaining policies that expand opportunities for young people, describing the governor’s commitment to youth development as instrumental to Lagos’ growth as Nigeria’s commercial and innovation hub.

He similarly praised Deputy Governor Kadri Obafemi Hamzat for supporting youth-focused initiatives and promoting inclusive governance.

The launch comes as governments and private sector stakeholders intensify efforts to address Nigeria’s youth employment challenge by investing in digital skills, innovation and entrepreneurship. With Lagos accounting for the country’s largest startup ecosystem and creative economy, the new hub is expected to strengthen the state’s position as a leading destination for innovation while helping more young Nigerians convert talent into thriving businesses and sustainable livelihoods.

OPay, a leading fintech company in Nigeria, is deploying artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies to combat digital fraud as the country’s digital payments ecosystem expands and cyber threats become more sophisticated.

The fintech company disclosed this at its media parley held in Lagos on Thursday, where executives outlined measures being adopted to improve the security of digital transactions and strengthen consumer confidence in the country’s cashless economy.

Speaking at the event, Elizabeth Wang, chief commercial officer of OPay, said trust has become central to the adoption of digital financial services, adding that financial inclusion cannot be achieved without robust security.

She said OPay’s mission remains ‘making financial services more inclusive through technology,’ while aspiring to become the most respected and trusted financial technology company that creates social value.

According to her, the company has continued to invest in information security as part of efforts to build payment solutions that are safe, stable and accessible.

‘When people trust digital financial services, they use them more confidently. That trust becomes the foundation for economic growth,’ Wang said.

She added that OPay’s investments extend beyond payments to education, innovation, financial inclusion and community development.

Also speaking, Dotun Adekunle, chief operating officer and chief technology officer of OPay, said the company’s technology strategy is driven by solving customer problems rather than simply deploying new technologies.

‘Every feature in this story began as a customer’s frustration. Where the market said, ‘that’s just how payments work here,’ we treated it as an engineering problem waiting to be solved,’ he said.

Adekunle said the company invested in redundant payment infrastructure and automatic failover systems to address failed or delayed transfers, resulting in a transaction success rate of 99.9 percent.

He also said OPay has redesigned its payment infrastructure to enable transaction confirmations in less than one second, reducing uncertainty for users and merchants.

According to him, the company’s fraud prevention system relies on risk-based verification rather than applying the same level of checks to every transaction.

He explained that facial verification is automatically triggered when high-risk activities are detected, such as high-value transfers, transactions from unfamiliar locations or unusual transaction patterns.

‘Your face is the final lock on risky transactions, invisible when things are normal, immovable when they are not,’ Adekunle said.

The company also showcased security features including Emergency Lock, which allows customers to freeze their accounts immediately if a phone is lost or stolen; Night Guard, which requires facial verification for unusual late-night transactions; Large Transaction Shield, which enables customers to set personalised transaction limits; and Anti-Scam Shield, which uses machine learning to identify and stop suspicious transfers before funds leave the network.

Adekunle said OPay also operates a zero scheduled downtime model, allowing system upgrades to be deployed without interrupting customer transactions.

‘The goal is simple: We engineer for your safety, your reliability, and your peace of mind,’ he said.

OPay said the continued growth of Nigeria’s digital economy depends on maintaining public confidence in digital financial services, noting that investments in intelligent fraud prevention technologies are critical to sustaining financial inclusion and supporting the country’s transition to a cashless economy.