Politics
THE Chairman, House committee on Nutrition and Food security, Rep. Chike Okafor has sponsored a bill seeking the establishment of the Nutritionist Registration Council of Nigeria.
The private-member bill was presented for the first reading during plenary on Thursday.
Okafor said that the bill was a necessary legislative response to a “ticking time bomb” of malnutrition and food insecurity in the country.
He explained that food insecurity is a threat to national development and the wellness of Nigerian citizens.
“It is with a profound sense of responsibility that I present this legislation for the Establishment of the Nutritionists Registration Council of Nigeria.
“This Bill is a necessary legislative response to a “ticking time bomb” of malnutrition and food insecurity that threaten our national development and the wellness of Nigerian citizens,” he said.
He said that the bill is not in competition with the Dietitians Council Bill, but that both mutually are reinforcing, but clearly different disciplines.
He reaffirmed his belief that the bill would ensure that Nutritionists Registration Council remain vital for the entire spectrum of the community and public health nutrition.
According to him, the council will ensure maternal and child nutrition, food and nutrition policy, academic, nutrition research and programme implementation, among many others.
Okafor said: “Nutritionist” is not legally protected in Nigeria, this has led to what he described as the “ugly balkanisation of the profession,” leaving it “vulnerable to the invasion of quacks.”
He, however, described the bill as the necessary legislative response to close that gap, protecting the public from unqualified practitioners.
Okafor explained that the council if established would regulate the nutrition profession, ensure the public could distinguish between a clinically trained dietitian for disease management and non-trained person.
The lawmaker reiterated that “the bill stands as an antidote to the ugly past as it closes that gap of infiltration and non-regulations of very key and important wellness needs.”
He said that the council would regulate, control and standardise the practice of Nutritionists in Nigeria.
“We can foster an environment where “adequate priority would be given to the provision of essential foods that will boost the health of the citizenry, if the council is established.” (NAN)
W.U
July 10, 2026
Tags: Rep. Chike Okafor