Nigeria is reported to have been one of the least successful of the African countries in achieving improvements in child survival. It is also said that she has made less progress over the past five decades, (1960 –date) in reducing mortality among the under five children than almost any other country in Sub-Saharan Africa (including those countries that have experienced long civil wars). The northern part of Nigeria has been the most severely affected. This paper examines nutritional status of under-5 children in Borno and Kano states as pilot spotlight on the scenario within this region. Data are sought and obtained through Anthropometric parameters. A total number of 4,560 children were assessed in 3701 households in the two states. Out of this number 49.8% were males while 50.2% were females. The data analyzed shows that Severe Acute Malnutrition outshot 5% alarming international standard rate; prevalence ranges from 5.3% in Maiduguri Municipal Council of Borno State to the highest value of 12.1% in Bichi LGA, of Kano State. Also at sex disaggregate level; the female sex has the prevalence rate of 10.3% in Biu LGA of Borno state, while the male counterpart has the highest value of 13.6% in Bichi LGA of Kano. The study also observed food scarcity, poverty, ignorance, social taboos and infection as the major challenges enhancing malnutrition that prevents children from growing into healthy individuals. The conclusion is that ameliorating poverty syndrome must receive priority attention if hunger and malnutrition are to be alleviated. There is also an urgent and immediate intervention need to implement community therapeutic care for integrated management of severe acute malnutrition in these states and perhaps in the entire region, if the lives of children within this age-cohort will not be compromised. Functional, accessible and affordable primary health clinics must be established at the community level for quality service delivery to meet the health need of the people.
