Malnutrition: SON moves to enforce food fortification in Nigeria 

……targets SMEs for compliance

By Matthew Denis, Abuja

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) is ramping up efforts to ensure mandatory fortification of key food products, with a new focus on bringing Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) into compliance to tackle malnutrition.

At a two-day SON-LSFF food inspection workshop in Abuja on Monday, SON Director-General, Ifeanyi Okeke said the agency is working to ensure that flour, sugar, salt, edible oil, margarine, and semolina produced by SMEs meet national fortification standards. 

He noted that bouillon and rice will soon be added to the list of mandated food vehicles.

Okeke, represented by Mrs. Victoria Nsofor, Deputy Director of SON’s Nutrition Desk, explained that the workshop aims to strengthen SON’s compliance monitoring and enforcement. 

“We develop standards and carry out assurance activities, but compliance monitoring and stakeholder engagement are critical to the large-scale food fortification program in Nigeria,” Nsofor said.

She stressed that fortification is mandatory. “Producers of fortified foods must understand that compliance is not optional. Non-compliance will attract sanctions,” she warned.

SON food inspectors from across all states attended the workshop to review field challenges and agree on actions to improve enforcement for the rest of the year.

Nsofor admitted that overall compliance remains weak, largely due to micro and small enterprises. 

“The big manufacturers are compliant, but micro and small enterprises are not. Many believe fortification is only for the big players. 

“That’s the message we’re taking to them in the coming weeks,” she said.

She noted that SMEs dominate local food production, and their low compliance is dragging down national figures. 

“If we can capture SMEs, the goal of having fortified products in every market will be achieved.”

Also speaking, Mr. Muhammad Yunusa, Director of SON’s Standards Development Department, represented by Deputy Director Jubril Muhammad, said SON is partnering with GAIN to close capacity gaps among SMEs.

“The aim is to take the fortification message to the grassroots and teach producers what to do so we have fortified products in the market,” he said.

 “These food vehicles are consumed daily and are the best way to reach the target population.”

He explained that the first phase involves sensitizing SON inspectors nationwide. The second phase targets one state in each geopolitical zone — including Kano, Rivers, Gombe, Oyo among others for direct engagement with manufacturers.

“We are prioritizing SMEs because large manufacturers already comply. SMEs in the informal sector lack capacity, but most of the food Nigerians eat is from small-scale producers,” Muhammad said.

As part of the state visits, SON plans to meet with Commissioners of Industry and Health to build synergy. “We cannot achieve results without bringing the states in. They have a key role to play,” he added.