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The Deputy National President of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Hon. (Engr.) Toni Adikibe, has reaffirmed the pivotal role of local governments in delivering sustainable healthcare and nutrition programmes to Nigerians, following a strategic engagement between the ALGON national leadership and Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The high-level meeting centred on the implementation of the Nutrition 774 Initiative, a nationwide intervention designed to tackle malnutrition through coordinated action across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.

Hon. Adikibe joined the ALGON National President, Hon. Engr. Bello Lawal, and other council leaders from across the federation during the courtesy visit, which underscored the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening grassroots participation in improving public health outcomes.

During the engagement, Adikibe commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima for advancing policies that place local governments at the heart of national development, particularly in promoting nutrition, food security and healthier living among rural populations.

He noted that the success of the Nutrition 774 Initiative would depend largely on the capacity of local councils to mobilise communities and coordinate grassroots implementation.

According to the ALGON Deputy National President, local governments remain the closest institutions to the people and are therefore best positioned to translate national health policies into measurable community impact.

Adikibe, who also serves as Executive Chairman of Oru West Local Government Area in Imo State, said the initiative would benefit from strong collaboration involving traditional institutions, women and youth groups, healthcare workers and community-based organisations.

He further highlighted Imo State’s efforts under Governor Senator Hope Uzodimma, noting that the state government, through the Ministry of Health, has continued to expand nutrition awareness and interventions aimed at improving maternal and child health while strengthening food security.

Describing malnutrition as a major development challenge, Adikibe stressed that coordinated action by all tiers of government would be essential to achieving lasting results.

He reaffirmed ALGON’s commitment, under the leadership of Hon. Engr. Bello Lawal, to ensuring that every local government council actively supports and implements the Nutrition 774 Initiative.

Other members of the ALGON delegation also pledged to work closely with the Presidency in driving the campaign nationwide, expressing confidence that stronger collaboration would significantly reduce preventable malnutrition and improve the quality of life for millions of Nigerians.

The meeting ended with a shared resolve by the Presidency and ALGON to deepen institutional partnership in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda, positioning local governments as critical drivers of inclusive healthcare delivery and sustainable grassroots development across Nigeria.