Exclusive Breastfeeding Rate in Nigeria Still Below 50% Target, Stakeholders Warn

Nigeria continues to fall short of its exclusive breastfeeding goals, with current rates hovering around 34%, significantly below the 50% target set by the World Health Assembly for 2025, reports The Guardian.

Although 90% of Nigerian mothers initiate breastfeeding, only a fraction sustain exclusive breastfeeding for six months—the WHO-recommended standard. This practice has improved from 19% in 2020 and 29% in 2021, but remains critically low as of 2022 data. The Guardian Nigeria+7Vanguard News+7ThisDay Live+7Daily Post Nigeria

Experts attribute the gap to maternal discomfort, cultural stigma, lack of workplace support, and the rising prevalence of breastmilk substitutes. Health workers stress the need for environments that support mothers, including longer maternity leave and designated breastfeeding spaces. The Guardian Nigeria+1

The benefits of exclusive breastfeeding are well-documented: it reduces infant deaths, lowers risks of malnutrition and respiratory infections, and enhances cognitive development. Yet Nigeria’s rate remains low, especially when compared to global averages. Only 29% of employers in Nigeria offer workplace breastfeeding policies. The Guardian Nigeria

To meet health targets, stakeholders urge coordinated efforts: increased public awareness, stronger policy frameworks, better maternity protections, and community-level breastfeeding support.