Nutritionist Bill Sparks Public Debate Over Nigeria’s Food Sovereignty

News in Brief:

— Nigeria’s proposed Nutritionists Registration Council Bill has sparked debate over professional regulation, overlapping authority and foreign influence.

— Critics question its potential links to Gates Foundation funding, GMO promotion and restrictions on traditional dietary practices.

The Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN) and its proposed legislation have sparked debate over Nigeria’s food sovereignty after revelations of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's funding support.

Sponsored by Rep. Chike Okafor, representing the Ehime Mbano/Ihitte Uboma/Obowo Federal Constituency, the Nutritionists Registration Council of Nigeria Bill (HB 2659) seeks to establish a formal regulatory council for nutritionists.

The bill aims to regulate nutrition practice, establish professional standards and ensure accountability. It also seeks to address the growing problem of unqualified practitioners, particularly on social media, where individuals without recognised qualifications offer dietary advice and present themselves as nutritionists.

“The bill comes amid growing recognition of nutrition as an important component of preventive healthcare, disease management and general well-being. Reliable nutrition guidance can help people make informed dietary choices, while misleading or scientifically unsupported advice may expose them to unnecessary health risks,” the NSN said.

The proposed legislation is expected to support Nigeria’s public health efforts by establishing a qualified workforce to address malnutrition, promoting professional development and maintaining official registers.

Institute Opposes Bill Over Regulatory Overlap

However, the Institute for Dietetics in Nigeria (IDN) has urged lawmakers to reject the proposed legislation, citing concerns about overlapping regulatory authority.

According to Tajudeen Olutope Ahmed, the institute’s national president, HB 2659 presents an inappropriate framework for regulating nutrition and dietetics in Nigeria.

Ahmed warned that the bill could establish a parallel regulatory body with responsibilities similar to those outlined in the Dietitians Council of Nigeria (Establishment) Bill, 2022 (HB 515).

The institute has also raised concerns about potential institutional confusion, given that Nigerian tertiary institutions already offer recognised degrees in Nutrition and Dietetics.

Critics argue that separating nutrition and dietetics into distinct professional qualifications and regulatory frameworks could complicate academic accreditation and create uncertainty over the scope of practice for professionals in the field.

Gates Foundation Funding Raises Food Sovereignty Concerns

Beyond the regulatory debate, the proposed bill attracted further scrutiny following the disclosure of grants worth approximately $2.4 million from the Gates Foundation to the Nutrition Society of Nigeria in 2023 and 2025.

According to the foundation, the funding was intended “to catalyse a network of local researchers that are capacitated to innovate for impact, scalability, sustainability, and gender equity around key public health, malnutrition, and food systems priorities in Nigeria.”

However, some social commentators have questioned the implications for Nigeria’s food sovereignty, alleging that the proposed legislation could be used to promote genetically modified organisms (GMOs) under a Federal Government-backed framework.

They have also expressed concerns that the bill could criminalise traditional knowledge and practitioners, potentially restricting individuals from offering dietary advice without formal professional registration.

The proposed legislation's provisions on accepting foreign funding and curricula have further raised questions about the extent of international influence over Nigeria’s nutrition and food systems policies.

Critics argue that these provisions could expose the country to the interests of international food stakeholders seeking to introduce experimental food technologies that may face restrictions in their countries of origin.

The debate therefore extends beyond professional regulation to questions about public health, traditional knowledge, foreign influence and Nigeria’s ability to determine its own food systems priorities.

While proponents maintain that the bill would strengthen nutrition practice and protect Nigerians from unqualified advice, opponents call for greater scrutiny of its regulatory structure, funding arrangements and potential implications for food sovereignty.