By: Mandy Park
Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has called on the Federal Government to accelerate the regulation of salt targets in processed and packaged foods to combat the growing prevalence of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and kidney failure in Nigeria.
In a statement signed by
Robert Egbe, Media & Communications Officer, CAPPA to mark World Salt Awareness Week 2025, the nongovernmental organisation (NGO) referenced World Health Organisation (WHO) data showing that reducing salt intake is one of the most cost-effective measures countries can take to improve population health outcomes.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), reducing salt intake is a cost-effective measure to improve population health outcomes.
However, Nigeria is unlikely to meet the global target of reducing salt intake by 30% by the end of the year.
Going by key statistics: ” On daily Salt Intake, Nigerians consume 7-9 grams of salt daily, exceeding the WHO recommended limit of 5 grams.
” On cardiovascular disease, excess sodium consumption contributes to at least 10% of cardiovascular disease deaths in Nigeria.
” Concerning hypertension, over 35% of adult Nigerians are affected by hypertension, partly due to excessive sodium intake.”
CAPPA’s call to action highlights the need for the government to prioritize public health and take concrete steps to regulate salt intake in Nigeria.
“This is too heavy a burden for the health sector to bear, and the issue is a major contributor to Nigeria’s alarming burden of noncommunicable diseases,” said Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director of CAPPA.
Oluwafemi reaffirmed CAPPA’s support for the National Guideline for Sodium Reduction recently launched by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
He also urged the Ministry to ramp up support to the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) which is drafting the regulations.
The statement noted that cultural practices, rapid urbanization, deceptive marketing and changing lifestyles are tilting Nigerians’ dietary patterns towards ultra-processed foods high in sodium, sugar and unhealthy fats.
“This makes the need for mandatory front-of-pack warning labels on food packages a necessity. Furthermore, manufacturers should also be compelled to reformulate their recipes to reduce the salt content of their products without compromising quality,” the statement added.
World Salt Awareness Week is observed from May 12th to 18th and aims to raise awareness about the impact of excess salt intake on health and promote healthy dietary habits.
