**4.9 Million Nigerian Children's Lives Lost Before Age Five, UN Warns** The United Nations has sounded the alarm over the slow decline in child mortality rates worldwide. According to a new report, an estimated 4.9 million children under the age of five died in 2024, with over 2.3 million of them being newborns. This is a staggering number that paints a grim picture of the state of child health globally. In Nigeria, where child mortality rates are among the highest in the world, this news is especially disheartening. According to the 2024 UN report, titled "Level and Trends in Child Mortality," the pace of reduction in child mortality has slowed by more than 60 per cent since 2015. This is a worrying trend that suggests that more needs to be done to save the lives of Nigerian children. The report highlights that most of these preventable deaths are due to lack of access to quality healthcare and proven, low-cost interventions. It also estimates that more than 100,000 children between the ages of 1 and 59 months died from Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) in 2024. Malnutrition weakens children's immunity and increases their risk of dying from common childhood diseases. UNICEF Executive Director, Catherine Russell, has called for urgent action to address this crisis. "No child should die from diseases that we know how to prevent," she said. "However, we see worrying signs that progress in child survival is slowing – and at a time when we're seeing further global budget cuts." In Nigeria, where millions of children suffer from malnutrition, this warning is a wake-up call for policymakers and parents alike. It is time for us to take action and ensure that every Nigerian child has access to quality healthcare and nutrition. By working together, we can save the lives of millions of children and give them a brighter future.