Lagos: Mr. Muhammad Okorie, Social Policy Manager and Officer-in-Charge of the UNICEF Lagos Field Office, has raised fresh concerns over Nigeria’s declining rates of optimal breastfeeding practices. He warned that lack of supportive systems was threatening the health and development of children in the country in spite of increased public awareness.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Okorie emphasized that Nigeria risked missing key health and development targets if the declining trend in breastfeeding practices continued. During an interview to mark the 2025 World Breastfeeding Week, he highlighted alarming statistics from the 2021 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). In Lagos State, of the over 710,000 births recorded, only 14 percent of newborns were breastfed within the first hour of life. Exclusive breastfeeding stands at 57 percent, and only 23 percent of children are breastfed up to two years, a decline from 28 percent in 2018.
The UNICEF official described the figures as a wake-up call for both policymakers and communities. He stressed that while efforts are ongoing, there is a pressing need to strengthen systems across healthcare, workplaces, and communities to make breastfeeding a sustainable norm. Okorie noted that breastfeeding is a societal responsibility, not just a personal choice, and requires systems that empower mothers.
Addressing concerns about underserved areas, Okorie indicated that the issue stems from social norms, misinformation, and lack of a conducive environment rather than fear. He disclosed that although 97 percent of Nigerian mothers initiate breastfeeding, sustaining exclusive breastfeeding for six months and continuing for up to two years remains a significant challenge.
