The Federal Government has introduced new national food procurement guidelines that will stop the purchase and sale of unhealthy foods and drinks in schools, hospitals, correctional centres, NYSC camps and other public institutions funded by the government as part of efforts to reduce cases of non-communicable diseases across the country.
The policy, unveiled on Friday, was developed by the Bureau of Public Procurement in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and Resolve to Save Lives.
It sets compulsory nutrition standards for food bought with public funds.
Under the new rules, government institutions will no longer be allowed to buy or serve sugar-sweetened drinks, beverages made with artificial sweeteners, processed meats such as sausages and canned meat, instant noodles, cakes, doughnuts, packaged biscuits, ultra-processed snacks and foods with high amounts of salt, sugar or industrial trans fats.
Instead, ministries, departments and agencies will be expected to provide healthier meals by giving priority to fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meat, legumes, fortified foods and fresh produce sourced locally.
Meals served in these institutions must also meet approved nutrition and food safety requirements.
The Nigerian Heart Foundation welcomed the new policy, describing it as an important step toward improving the quality of food available in public institutions.
The foundation said Nigeria had operated for years without a national framework guiding healthy food procurement, despite the growing number of people living with diseases linked to poor diets.
According to the foundation, unhealthy eating habits have continued to fuel cases of hypertension, diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular diseases, making the new guidelines necessary to improve public health.
The new standards will apply to schools, hospitals, orphanages, correctional centres, camps for internally displaced persons, military formations, government offices and every public institution that purchases food with government funds.
The guidelines also require institutions to serve at least two portions of fruits and two portions of vegetables every day. Refined grains are to be replaced with whole grains, while food producers and caterers must reduce the amount of salt and sugar used in meals.
Cooking methods are also expected to change. Institutions must use healthier vegetable oils instead of partially hydrogenated oils and animal fats in food preparation to reduce unhealthy fat intake.
To support local agriculture, the government directed that at least 30 per cent of food procurement budgets in public institutions should be spent on buying fresh food from local farmers and community suppliers.
The move is expected to improve food security while creating more opportunities for local producers.
The guidelines also provide for regular monitoring of sodium, sugar and saturated fat levels in meals served in public institutions.
Compliance checks and inspections will be carried out, while institutions or suppliers that fail to follow the rules may face sanctions, financial penalties or be barred from future government procurement contracts.
The Nigerian Heart Foundation said improving the quality of meals served in public institutions would help lower the burden of diet-related illnesses and contribute to a healthier population.
It also pledged to support the implementation of the guidelines through advocacy, public awareness campaigns and technical collaboration with relevant government agencies.
The Bureau of Public Procurement will lead the implementation of the policy alongside the relevant ministries and agencies to ensure all affected institutions comply with the new nutrition standards.
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