By Abdulkareem Haruna


Abuja, Nigeria – As the world observes Salt Awareness Week, a Nigerian non-governmental organization is pressing the Federal Government to urgently finalize and implement regulations aimed at curbing excessive salt consumption in processed and packaged foods.

Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) warned that delays in enforcing salt targets are exacerbating the nation’s growing burden of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and kidney failure.


In a statement released Tuesday, CAPPA underscored the critical need for government intervention, citing World Health Organization (WHO) data that identifies reducing salt intake as a highly effective and cost-efficient strategy for improving public health outcomes.


The WHO has set a global target for its member states to achieve a 30 percent reduction in population salt intake by the end of 2025. However, CAPPA noted with concern that Nigeria, like many other nations, is unlikely to meet this ambitious deadline.
Data from Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare reveals that the average daily salt intake among Nigerians ranges between seven and nine grams, significantly surpassing the WHO’s recommended limit of five grams (equivalent to two grams of sodium). This excessive consumption, CAPPA highlighted, is a major contributor to the country’s alarming health statistics.


The NGO pointed out that at least 10 percent of all cardiovascular disease-related deaths in Nigeria are directly linked to excessive sodium intake. Furthermore, the surge in hypertension, now affecting over 35 percent of adult Nigerians, has also been strongly correlated with overconsumption of sodium.


“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,” stated Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director of CAPPA.
Oluwafemi reiterated CAPPA’s strong support for the National Guideline for Sodium Reduction recently launched by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. He further called on the Ministry to intensify its support for the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), which is currently in the process of drafting the crucial enforcement regulations.


CAPPA’s statement also highlighted the shifting dietary patterns in Nigeria, driven by cultural shifts, rapid urbanization, deceptive marketing tactics, and evolving lifestyles. These factors are increasingly pushing Nigerians towards the consumption of ultra-processed foods that are typically high in sodium, sugar, and unhealthy fats.


“This makes the need for mandatory front-of-pack warning labels on food packages a necessity,” the statement asserted.

“Furthermore, manufacturers should also be compelled to reformulate their recipes to reduce the salt content of their products without compromising quality.”


World Salt Awareness Week, observed annually from May 12th to 18th, serves as a global campaign to raise public awareness about the detrimental health effects of excessive salt intake and to promote healthier dietary choices. CAPPA’s timely intervention underscores the urgency of addressing this public health crisis in Nigeria through robust regulatory action.


Robert Egbe, Media & Communications Officer, CAPPA, contributed to this report.