{
  "id": 8071105,
  "title": "Rising food, fuel costs driving child malnutrition, says Atiku",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/rising-food-fuel-costs-driving-child-malnutrition-says-atiku",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-17T18:24:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/rising-food-fuel-costs-driving-child-malnutrition-says-atiku/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has denounced Nigeria's escalating child malnutrition crisis, attributing it to surging food, transportation, and energy costs. Atiku emphasized that economic hardship is making it increasingly difficult for families to ensure proper nutrition for their children. According to recent figures, 41.1% of Nigerian children under five are stunted, with 58.2% in the North-West experiencing stunting. The Nutrition Society of Nigeria reported nearly two million children suffering from severe acute malnutrition, with only 20% receiving treatment. Atiku highlighted the impact of high food and energy costs on families struggling to make ends meet, stating that a child only knows if there is food on the table. He proposed a production subsidy for Nigerian-produced and refined petroleum, aiming to reduce energy and transportation costs while bolstering domestic production. Atiku stressed that economic policy must prioritize the affordability of living for ordinary Nigerians, warning against the consequences of economic reforms on households.",
  "summary": "Former VP Atiku Abubakar says rising food, fuel, and transport costs are driving child malnutrition in Nigeria, affecting families’ ability to feed their c Read More: https://punchng.com/rising-food-fuel-costs-driving-child-malnutrition-says-atiku/",
  "key_points": [
    "Atiku blames surging food, fuel, and energy costs for child malnutrition in Nigeria.",
    "41.1% of Nigerian children under five are stunted, with 58.2% in the North-West affected."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Post Nigeria",
        "title": "Nigerian families can no longer afford food under Tinubu – Atiku laments",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/nigerian-families-can-no-longer-afford-food-under-tinubu-atiku-laments",
        "published": "2026-09-17T17:30:08.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "Rising food, fuel costs driving child malnutrition, says Atiku",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/17/rising-food-fuel-costs-driving-child-malnutrition-says-atiku-8073078",
        "published": "2026-09-17T18:36:42.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}