The Benue State Nutritional Officer (SNO) Shar Faustina M. Sunday disclosed that the state would require at least N9.918 billion to implement the 22 specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions within 4 years.
Mrs Shar made this known during a media parley organised by the Civil Society Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) in Makurdi the Benue state capital, noting that out of the total, an average annual public investment cost is estimated at N2, 479,550,847.00.
She said the plan is expected to be used as an advocacy tool for improved nutrition financing in Benue state and it incorporates monitoring and evaluation, accountability and learning component for easy tracking of progress and impact evaluation.
According to her, the fund if approved will also give Benue State the leverage to contribute towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals target by 2030.
Also speaking at the occasion, Aji Rachael Robinson, national co-chairman Steering Committee CS-SUNN, said though Benue state domesticated the National Strategic Plan of Action for Nutrition (NSPAN) since 2021 to provide a multi-sectoral approach to tackling the problem of malnutrition among women and children, unfortunately, the strategic plan was yet to be approved by the state government.
Benue needs N9.918bn to implement nutrition-sensitive interventions in 4 years
