Nigeria has one of the highest rates of acute malnutrition in the world. Nigeria was ranked 13th by UNICEF in its global classification of countries with high rates of Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM) in 2013. It is very disheartening to note that Nigeria’s GAM rate is 14% which is higher than that of West and Central African mean. It is 5% higher than the Sub-Saharan average of 9%. Statistics show that of the under fives in Nigeria; 37% are stunted, 21-29% are underweight, an indication that about 34-42% are wasted1. Additionally, the unending insurgence in the north-east geopolitical zone, with resulting influx of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in various camps, has resulted in a more urgent need to further scale-up the programme coverage for treatment of acute malnutrition, thus generating an even greater increase in demand for Ready-To-Use–Therapeutic Foods (RUTF).

RUTFs, imported into Nigeria by UNICEF and other Nutrition partners, are edible lipid-based, energy dense, protein rich, single-serving foods that are used in a prescribed manner to treat children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) after patients have been stabilized in health facilities. Imported RUTF is however not always available where and when needed due to factors such as high cost of importation, stringent government policies on importation, and shipping delays to mention a few. Local production of RUTF, particularly in countries with high burden of SAM like Nigeria, has thus been recommended by UNICEF, this will increase availability, accessibility and efficiency in supply.

With the above in view, the Federal Institute of Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO) initiated a research into the use of indigenous raw materials in the production of RUTF. To date, FIIRO has developed a technology for this production which is available for scaling-up and transfer to a commercial producer. FIIRO would collaborate and partner with such reputable commercial producer so as to make RUTF more available nationwide to meet the increasing demands and reduce both human and economic losses arising from SAM. Two RUTF variants developed can be safely stored at ambient tropical conditions for about 10-12 months with no appreciable loss of quality. Animal studies and Clinical studies are currently underway.