The Federal Government has launched the National Guidelines for Public Procurement of Food and Related Services, introducing a framework that places nutrition, food safety and quality at the heart of food procurement across public institutions.
The guidelines were unveiled in Abuja on 13 July 2026 during an event themed "Public Procurement of Food: Promoting a Culture of National Wellness Through the Food Value Chain." They are expected to shape meals served in public institutions such as schools, hospitals, correctional centres and military establishments. By establishing evidence-based nutrition standards, the framework aims to encourage healthier diets while reducing the growing burden of non-communicable diseases in Nigeria.
During the unveiling, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, described the initiative as a shift from treating public food procurement as a routine administrative exercise to recognising it as a strategic instrument for improving public health and advancing national development.
He noted that government demand for healthier, safer and more nutritious food would encourage producers, suppliers and manufacturers across the food value chain to improve quality and align with higher public health standards.
As Nigeria's largest institutional purchaser of food, the government has the capacity to influence food production, nutrition standards and consumer behaviour, Mr Salako observed. To achieve this, the guidelines establish limits on sodium, sugar and unhealthy fats in food procured by public institutions while promoting balanced and nutritious diets.
The minister explained that the framework complements existing national policies, including the National Guideline for Sodium Reduction, the Trans Fat Regulation and the 2023 National Policy on Food Safety and Quality, reinforcing the country's encompassing efforts to improve food safety and nutrition.
He also highlighted the global impact of unhealthy diets, noting that they contribute to about 7.2 million deaths every year. Excessive consumption of salt, sugar and unhealthy fats, coupled with inadequate intake of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, remains a major driver of the trend.
Turning to the Nigerian context, Mr Salako revealed that the average adult consumes between 3.9 grammes and 4.9 grammes of sodium daily, almost double the World Health Organisation's recommended limit of 2 grammes.
He further pointed to the growing consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, linking the trend to rising cases of obesity and diabetes. He noted that this prompted the introduction of the Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax, while industrial trans fats have also been restricted under Nigeria's Trans Fatty Acid Regulation.
According to the minister, these measures are designed to tackle dietary patterns that continue to fuel non-communicable diseases, placing enormous pressure on healthcare systems, household incomes and the national economy.
Looking ahead, the minister stressed that the success of the guidelines will depend on effective implementation rather than their launch alone. He urged procurement and accounting officers across government institutions to ensure full compliance, emphasising that procurement decisions have a direct impact on public health, productivity and public confidence in government.
He reaffirmed that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare will continue promoting disease prevention through healthier public policies as part of Nigeria's drive towards achieving universal health coverage.
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