By Danhassan Abubakar
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sounded the alarm over Nigeria’s low exclusive breastfeeding rate, with only 34% of babies being breastfed exclusively for the first six months. This falls short of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended benchmark of 50%.
To commemorate World Breastfeeding Week 2025, NAFDAC’s Bauchi State Coordinator, Hamis Yahaya, renewed the agency’s call for workplaces to establish crèches, stressing that supportive work environments are crucial for nursing mothers. “We need to make our workplaces friendly for nursing mothers,” Yahaya emphasized.
The theme of this year’s World Breastfeeding Week, “Prioritize Breastfeeding: Create Sustainable Support Systems,” aligns with NAFDAC’s efforts to promote breastfeeding-friendly systems across sectors. Yahaya highlighted the benefits of breast milk, describing it as a child’s first immunization that boosts immunity, promotes healthy growth, and fosters mother-child bonding.
NAFDAC is mandated to monitor adherence to the International Code of Marketing of Breast Milk Substitutes, which aims to promote exclusive breastfeeding from birth to six months. The agency has a technical committee that monitors compliance and has noticed marketers of breast milk substitutes offering incentives to healthcare workers and pregnant women. NAFDAC vowed to crack down on such practices and intensify awareness campaigns to promote exclusive breastfeeding nationwide.
Yahaya encouraged mothers to breastfeed exclusively for the first six months and continue up to two years, citing benefits for both mothers and babies, including reduced postpartum hemorrhage and faster maternal recovery. NAFDAC remains committed to working with civil society organizations and government stakeholders to promote exclusive breastfeeding acr oss Nigeria.