The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), has urged the Federal Government to accelerate the formulation of regulations for enforcing salt targets in processed and packaged foods.
In a statement by Robert Egbe, the Media and Communications Officer of CAPPA to mark World Salt Awareness Week 2025, the NGO said the action became necessary to checkmate the country’s growing prevalence of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and kidney failure.
It noted the 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.
It also noted that WHO member states are on a plan to reduce the global population’s intake of salt by 30 percent by the end of this year, adding that most countries, including Nigeria, are unlikely to meet the deadline.
It said that according to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMoHSW), between seven and nine grams of salt daily, far exceeded the WHO recommended limit of five grams (equivalent to 2 grams of sodium).
“Consequently, no less than 10 percent of cardiovascular disease deaths in the country are attributed to excess sodium consumption. Sodium overconsumption has also been tied to the alarming rise in hypertension, now affecting over 35 percent of adult Nigerians.
“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,” the statement quoted Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director of CAPPA as saying.
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.
