SON, Rivers deepen collaboration on food fortification compliance

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has deepened collaboration with the Rivers State Government to promote mandatory food fortification in the state.

Nigeria currently ranks first in Africa and second globally for child malnutrition.

Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, Director-General/Chief Executive of SON, said the situation greatly impacts women and children, demanding urgent measures to ensure monitoring and compliance with mandatory food fortification standards.

Okeke, represented by Foluso Bolaji, Director, Human Resources, made this known during a meeting with Kelvin Nweke, the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Commerce and Industry, in his office in Port Harcourt on Monday.

Okeke said the Agency and the State “share a common concern — improving nutrition and strengthening food fortification efforts in our Country.

“Our visit is really about partnership. We want to deepen our collaboration with the ministry so we can move forward more effectively in promoting food fortification, in line with the National Policy on Food and Nutrition,” he said.

Okeke noted that addressing malnutrition “requires all of us working together, and today’s engagement is a step in that direction. Food fortification may sound technical, but at its core, it is a simple and practical solution. By adding essential vitamins and minerals to everyday foods, we can prevent deficiencies that continue to affect many Nigerians.

“Conditions linked to low levels of Vitamin A, iron, and iodine are still common, especially among children and women. These are not just Commerce and Industry issues; they affect learning, productivity, and overall quality of life.

“This is where SON comes in. As the national body responsible for Standards, we work to ensure that fortified foods meet the required quality and nutrient levels. Standards are already in place for widely consumed products such as flour, sugar, salt, and edible oil. But Standards alone are not enough, consistent compliance is what makes the real difference.

“To support this, we are also introducing a Digital Fortification Quality Traceability system. This will help improve monitoring, make compliance easier to track, and bring more transparency into the system overall.”

Okeke noted that SON cannot do this alone. He said, “The Ministry of Commerce and Industry plays a central role. Your leadership is essential in tracking nutrition outcomes, integrating fortification into Commerce and Industry programmes, raising public awareness, and ensuring that interventions are making the desired impact.

“Going forward, we see several areas where we can work more closely together. These include strengthening joint monitoring of fortified foods, aligning fortification with ongoing state nutrition programmes, improving data sharing, and collaborating on public awareness efforts so that people better understand the benefits of fortified foods.

“If we get this right, the impact will be clear. We will see better compliance from producers, fewer cases of micronutrient deficiencies, and ultimately, Commerce and Industrial communities across Rivers State.”

Kelvin Nweke, Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Commerce and Industry, acknowledged the role of government in monitoring and enforcing compliance to mandatory standards.

He said efforts to ensure compliance with food fortification should include collaboration among government ministries, such as those on Health, Agriculture and Commerce, as well as public awareness campaigns driven at the grassroots.

Nweke assured the delegation of the state’s preparedness to collaborate with SON to drive compliance and awareness of food fortification standards in the industrial sector.

Victoria Nwofor, SON’s Head of Nutrition, noted the need to intensify compliance among micro- and small-scale enterprises engaged in food production.

She pointed out that SON is working to ensure that key food products such as flour, sugar, salt, and others meet national fortification standards.

The SON delegation, led by Bolaji, included Esther Okon, SON’s Regional Director, South-South Region; Victoria Nsofor, Deputy Director and Head Nutrition; and others.