The Nutritional Requirements of the Nigerian Population

Abstract

Data on age and sex distribution and average body weights of Nigerian population are given. Computation shows that 41-6% of the population is under 15 years of age and that the Nigerian population is now increasing at a very fast rate of about 3-0% per annum and that the population would be 72-2 million and 86-2 million in the periods 1973/74 and 1979/80 respectively. Nutrient allowances for the population of Nigeria are given and the basis for the estimates is discussed. There is a projection of Nigerian nutritional needs for the periods 1973/74 and 1979/80 respectively. Short-term targets for food consumption in parts of Nigeria that would provide minimum nutritional requirements at low costand eliminate undernutrition in the population are stated quantitatively