By Khadija Kubau
The Kaduna State Government, in partnership with UNICEF, has inaugurated a multi-sectoral task force to curb the diversion of nutrition commodities and strengthen accountability in public health interventions.
The initiative reflects a joint commitment by both parties to ensure that life-saving nutrition supplies reach vulnerable populations, particularly women and children at the grassroots.
Inaugurating the task force, the Commissioner of the Planning and Budget Commission, Mukhtar Ahmed Monrovia, said the move became necessary following concerns over the misuse and diversion of nutrition commodities across parts of the state.
He noted that although the government and its partners had invested significantly in nutrition interventions, reports indicated that some supplies meant for about 8,000 beneficiaries in various local government areas were not reaching their intended recipients.
Chairman of the State Committee on Food and Nutrition, Alhaji Mukhtar Abdullahi, who also serves as Permanent Secretary of the Planning and Budget Commission, described the development as unacceptable and a threat to efforts aimed at addressing malnutrition.
“These commodities are meant for vulnerable women and children. We are determined to ensure they reach the last-mile beneficiaries without interference,” he said.
Abdullahi explained that the task force would oversee all nutrition and related commodities in the state, regardless of funding source, while strengthening monitoring, tracking, and reporting systems across all levels.
He added that the committee would work closely with local government authorities, community leaders, and primary healthcare structures to ensure transparency and improve service delivery at the grassroots.
In her remarks, a UNICEF Nutrition Specialist, Chinwe Ezeife, who represented the Chief of Field Office, Dr. Gerida Birukila, commended the Kaduna State Government for the collaboration and proactive response to the challenges in the nutrition sector.
She described the establishment of the task force as a critical step toward improving accountability and ensuring the effective utilisation of public health commodities.
“It is essential that these life-saving supplies reach those they are intended for. Strengthening oversight and addressing inefficiencies will significantly improve programme outcomes,” she said.
Ezeife reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to supporting the state through technical assistance, including the development of monitoring frameworks and periodic review mechanisms to track progress.
Also speaking, the Project Coordinator of ANRiN 2.0, Dr. Zainab Kwaru Muhammad Idris, praised the initiative, noting that enhanced coordination and accountability would boost the impact of nutrition interventions across the state.
Stakeholders at the event emphasized that the task force would operate under clearly defined terms of reference, with a focus on monitoring distribution, ensuring proper utilisation of resources, and strengthening data-driven decision-making.
They urged members to approach their responsibilities with diligence, integrity, and a strong sense of duty.
The Kaduna State Government and UNICEF expressed optimism that the joint effort would curb diversion, enhance transparency, and significantly improve nutrition outcomes for vulner Toable populations across the state.
