Key points:
- Health advocates have called for stronger public education on food labelling systems and healthier food policies to tackle rising cases of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases in Nigeria.
- Experts warn that many Nigerians unknowingly consume excessive sodium through processed and packaged foods such as noodles, seasoning cubes and fast foods.
- Stakeholders are urging government, civil society groups, the media and the food industry to collaborate on creating healthier food environments and improving consumer awareness.
Main story
A coalition of health advocates has called for intensified public education and stronger food policies to address the growing burden of cardiovascular diseases and other non-communicable diseases linked to excessive salt consumption in Nigeria.
The call was made on Thursday in Abuja during a news conference held after a road walk organised to commemorate the 2026 World Salt Awareness Week themed, “Salt it out – For your heart’s sake.”
Speaking at the event, Jerome Mafeni, Technical Adviser and Public Health Lead at the Network for Health Equity and Development, said sustained public health education had become critical in reducing the prevalence of hypertension, stroke, heart disease and other non-communicable diseases across the country.
Mafeni stressed the need for stronger collaboration among governments, civil society organisations, the media and other stakeholders to promote healthier diets and improve public understanding of nutrition and food choices.
According to him, excessive sodium consumption remains a major public health concern, particularly because many Nigerians are unaware of the hidden salt content in processed and packaged foods.
“The burden of hypertension in Nigeria cannot be separated from the food environments consumers are exposed to daily. Public education and healthier food systems are critical to improving health outcomes,” he said.
He also called for clearer food labelling systems, sodium reduction initiatives and policies that encourage healthier consumer choices.
The issues
Health experts say Nigeria is witnessing a growing burden of non-communicable diseases, including hypertension, stroke and heart disease, driven partly by unhealthy diets and excessive sodium intake.
Processed foods such as seasoning cubes, instant noodles, processed snacks, bread, fast foods and processed meats have increasingly become major sources of hidden salt consumption among Nigerians.
Medical professionals warn that many consumers unknowingly exceed recommended sodium intake levels because nutrition information on food products is either unclear, inaccessible or poorly understood.
Stakeholders argue that weak food policies, inadequate public awareness and limited regulation of processed food products continue to expose consumers to avoidable health risks.
The coalition believes that without stronger interventions, Nigeria could face rising healthcare costs and increased mortality associated with diet-related illnesses.
What’s being said
Country Director of the Network for Health Equity and Development, Emmanuel Sokpo, described excessive salt consumption as one of the major contributors to avoidable illnesses and deaths in Nigeria.
According to him, reducing sodium intake remains one of the simplest and most cost-effective public health measures for preventing cardiovascular diseases.
He noted that many Nigerians consume large quantities of salt unknowingly due to the growing dependence on processed and packaged foods.
Also speaking on behalf of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, Bukola Odele, emphasised the need for stronger consumer protection policies and clearer nutrition information.
She said Nigerians deserved access to understandable food labels that would enable them to make healthier and informed dietary decisions.
Odele further called for improved accountability measures, stronger food regulations and sustained public awareness campaigns to support healthier food environments.
The coalition maintained that tackling excessive salt consumption requires coordinated action involving government institutions, civil society groups, the media, the food industry and consumers.
What’s next
Stakeholders are expected to intensify advocacy for improved food labelling regulations, sodium reduction strategies and public awareness campaigns aimed at promoting healthier diets across Nigeria.
Health advocates also hope that government agencies and policymakers will strengthen regulations guiding processed food production and nutrition disclosure.
The coalition encouraged Nigerians to become more conscious of their dietary habits and support initiatives focused on reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases nationwide.
Meanwhile, awareness activities linked to the 2026 World Salt Awareness Week are expected to continue globally as health organisations push for healthier food systems and improved public health outcomes.
Bottom line
Health experts warn that excessive salt consumption is quietly fueling the rise of hypertension, stroke and heart disease in Nigeria, largely through processed and packaged foods consumed daily by millions of people.
They argue that stronger food policies, clearer nutrition information and sustained public education will be essential in helping Nigerians make healthier choices and reducing the growing burden of non-communicable diseases.
