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ABUJA – The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) has confirmed its strategic engagement with the Presidency on the accelerated rollout of the Nutrition 774 Initiative, describing the collaboration as a major step towards strengthening grassroots implementation of the Federal Government’s development agenda across Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas.

The confirmation follows a high-level audience granted to the national leadership of ALGON, led by its National President, Hon. Engr. Bello Lawal, by Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

According to ALGON, the engagement reinforces the central role of local governments in driving the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, particularly in the areas of human capital development, food and nutrition security, and the strengthening of primary healthcare systems.

Speaking on the outcome of the meeting, ALGON National Publicity Secretary and Spokesperson, Hon. Anani Hamisu Mohammed, said the engagement represents a new governance framework that aligns national policy with grassroots implementation to deliver measurable development outcomes.

He explained that the meeting was not merely ceremonial but a strategic policy engagement designed to ensure that federal programmes are effectively translated into tangible benefits for communities across the country.

“Democracy derives its legitimacy where the people reside. In Nigeria, governance legitimacy is domiciled in the 774 Local Government Areas. This was therefore not a courtesy call. It was a calibration of mandates to ensure that federal policy translates into measurable outcomes at community level,” Anani said.

He disclosed that ALGON has resolved to operationalise the Nutrition 774 Initiative through a coordinated, data-driven and inclusive development framework that will designate all 774 local government chairmen as Nutrition Champions.

Under the implementation strategy, local governments will work closely with traditional institutions, women’s groups, youth organisations and community health extension workers to strengthen last-mile delivery of nutrition services, while local monitoring and accountability systems will track progress in reducing child stunting, improving maternal nutrition, expanding dietary diversity and strengthening school feeding programmes.

Anani reaffirmed ALGON’s commitment to supporting the Presidency’s Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that local governments possess the institutional capacity and grassroots reach required to convert national policies into sustainable community development.

“Our alignment with the Renewed Hope Agenda is deliberate. We possess the institutional memory, the political will, and the administrative reach to convert policy intent into community impact. When the 774 LGAs are mobilised in unison, the trajectory of national development changes,” he stated.

He added that the association remains committed to ensuring that no child suffers preventable malnutrition, no mother is denied access to nutrition services, and no community is left behind in the implementation of the initiative.

The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment by the Presidency and ALGON to institutionalise a permanent interface between the Office of the Vice President and the association to coordinate implementation, oversight and long-term sustainability of the Nutrition 774 Initiative nationwide.