Nigeria grows more cassava than any country on earth. So why are millions of Nigerians still going to bed hungry, or worse, full but malnourished? That’s the question at the heart of this year’s World Food Day.

Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, CAPPA, is urging the Federal Government to stop measuring food security by just how much food is in the market. In a statement signed by its Communications Officer, Robert Egbe, to mark World Food Day 2026, themed “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow”, the group said real food security is about whether food is safe, nutritious, affordable and actually good for you.

It’s a painful paradox. Nigeria’s food production index has risen, and we’re a global leader in cassava, yam and sorghum. Yet, according to CAPPA, massive post-harvest losses, insecurity in farming belts, and broken logistics mean millions still face acute hunger and undernutrition.

And there’s a second crisis brewing. Citing National Bureau of Statistics data on the soaring cost of a healthy diet, CAPPA says aggressive marketing by ultra-processed food companies is pushing Nigerians towards cheap, sugary, salty, fatty options. The result? A food system that fills stomachs but fuels obesity, hypertension, diabetes and heart disease.

As CAPPA put it: “Food security must mean more than having something to eat. Nigerians should not have to choose between feeding their families and providing them with nutritious meals.”

For years, Nigeria’s National Policy on Food and Nutrition (2016-2025) has focused heavily on availability. But experts argue availability without nutrition is a false win. If fresh tomatoes, vegetables and beans are unaffordable, families turn to sugar-sweetened drinks and ultra-processed noodles. You are fed, but not nourished.

This is why CAPPA says nutrition financing can’t be left to an industry whose loyalty is to profit, not public health.

Nigeria is currently reviewing that nutrition policy and planning a National Food and Nutrition Bill — a huge opportunity to get it right.

CAPPA’s prescription, reported by cbinews.tv, is clear:

Make unhealthy less attractive: Pass the SSB Tax Bill. The Senate has done its bit, now CAPPA wants the House of Representatives to pass the Customs, Excise Tariffs Act (CETA) Amendment Bill to tax sugary drinks properly and fund healthcare.

Give power back to shoppers: NAFDAC must enforce clear Front-of-Pack Warning Labels (FOPWL), set sodium-reduction targets, and ban marketing of junk food to kids, including influencer ads and promotions around schools.

Make healthy food affordable: Invest in smallholder farmers, agroecology, storage and distribution to cut post-harvest losses and get fresh food to market cheaper.

Bottom line: World Food Day shouldn’t just be a celebration. It should be a check-up on whether food policy is actually improving lives on the street.

Innovation isn’t just about tech, it’s about stronger regulation, transparent policymaking, and a food system that puts people before profits.

Source/Cbinewstv

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