By Kingsley Samuel
The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, CAPPA, has commended the Federal Government for introducing the National Guidelines for Public Procurement of Food and Related Services, describing the policy as a major step towards improving nutrition and promoting healthier food environments in public institutions across the country.
The organisation, however, urged the Federal, state and local governments to ensure full implementation of the Guidelines so that millions of Nigerians who depend on publicly funded meals can benefit from healthier food options.
The Guidelines, published in December 2025 and officially launched in Abuja on July 13, 2026, were developed by the Bureau of Public Procurement, BPP, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, development partners, professional bodies and civil society organisations.
The new policy sets nutrition standards for food purchased with public funds for schools and school feeding programmes, hospitals, correctional centres, NYSC orientation camps, orphanages, internally displaced persons’ camps, emergency shelters and other public institutions.
It also restricts the procurement, sale and serving of sugar-sweetened beverages and drinks containing non-sugar sweeteners in these institutions, while setting limits for sodium, saturated fats and trans fats.
It further promotes the consumption of fruits, vegetables and whole grains, encourages local food sourcing and incorporates nutrition and food safety standards into public procurement.
Speaking on the development, Executive Director of CAPPA, Mr. Akinbode Oluwafemi, described the Guidelines as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to promote healthy diets.
He said: “Government remains one of the country’s largest purchasers of food. Every day, millions of meals are served through schools, hospitals, correctional facilities, NYSC camps, IDP camps and other public institutions.
“What government chooses to buy inevitably shapes what millions of Nigerians eat. The Guidelines recognise that public procurement is not just another purchasing activity but a powerful public health intervention.”
CAPPA particularly welcomed the inclusion of sodium reduction targets in line with the National Guidelines for Sodium Reduction, 2024, noting that adult meals should contain no more than 700 milligrams of sodium, equivalent to 1.75 grams of salt, with lower limits for children and other groups.
The organisation also praised the ban on partially hydrogenated oils and the restriction of trans fats to no more than two grams per 100 grams of food, alongside the requirement for manufacturers to disclose trans-fat content on product labels.
According to CAPPA, another major provision requires at least 30 per cent of institutional food procurement budgets to be spent on locally grown or produced foods supplied by smallholder farmers and community vendors, a move it said would improve nutrition, strengthen local food systems and support rural livelihoods.
While applauding the Federal Government and other stakeholders involved in developing the policy, CAPPA stressed that effective implementation would determine its success.
It called on the Bureau of Public Procurement to immediately establish the National Food Procurement Oversight Committee as provided in the Guidelines to monitor compliance, investigate violations and ensure public participation in the implementation process.
The organisation also recommended the appointment of monitoring officers across public institutions, routine inspections, quarterly compliance reports, annual independent audits and the creation of a central compliance database.
Oluwafemi added: “Launching the Guidelines is an important first step. The real measure of success will depend on how faithfully these standards are applied in everyday procurement and food service operations. Procurement officers, caterers, contractors and food service providers must receive the training and support required to comply.”
CAPPA pledged to continue supporting implementation of the Guidelines through research, public education, stakeholder engagement and independent monitoring.
