Public health advocates have renewed calls for Nigerians to reduce their salt intake, warning that excessive sodium consumption is driving a surge in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension, heart disease, and stroke, with devastating consequences for individuals, national productivity, and the economy.
Although they acknowledged government efforts toward salt reduction, they emphasised that involving the media in creating and sustaining public awareness would yield far greater impact.
At a media roundtable held Wednesday in Abuja, experts, nutritionists, and journalists convened to discuss the National Sodium Reduction Guidelines, the health risks of salt-heavy diets, and the critical role of the media in promoting public awareness.
The event was organised by the Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED), in collaboration with the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA).
According to the experts, with the country already battling a rising tide of diet-related illnesses, research shows that many common processed foods consumed by Nigerians far exceed safe sodium levels.
Yet, the absence of clear front-of-pack food labels prevents consumers from making informed dietary choices. Adopting Front-of-Pack Warning Labels (FOPWL), the experts said, would empower Nigerians to easily identify high-salt, high-sugar products.
Nigeria’s food environment is flooded with invisible risks. The media must spotlight these risks, not just for awareness, but to demand solutions that protect citizens’ health,” said Dr. Emmanuel Sokpo, NHED Country Director.
Dr. Joseph Ekiyor, a global health researcher, provided sobering statistics, saying, “1.6 million lives could be saved each year globally if sodium intake is cut by 30%.
“In 2021, NCDs caused 43 million deaths worldwide, 75% of all non-pandemic-related deaths. Most of these were in low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria.”
He warned that unless urgent action is taken, the number of deaths could rise to 52 million annually by 2030.
John Tehinse, a Food Scientist and member of Nigeria’s sodium reduction technical working group, explained that the government has adopted the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines and is now working with the food industry to reformulate products.
“We studied 34 food categories popular in Nigeria, including bread and meat products, to guide safe sodium levels,” he said.
Tehinse added that the national target is to reduce salt in processed foods by 15% by 2026, reaching 30% by 2030, urging, “This gradual approach helps Nigerians adapt their taste without losing flavour. But the media must drive this awareness so people understand what’s at stake”.
Citing examples from schools, Tehinse warned that children are increasingly exposed to salty, processed foods.
“Some schools feed pupils junk five times a day. A nine-year-old already weighing 75kg is a sign of crisis. Parents must return to home-cooked, traditional meals,” he said.
Tehinse emphasised that enforcement of new regulations will be led by NAFDAC once sodium guidelines are codified into law, noting, “But enforcement alone isn’t enough. Public education must start now, and that’s where the media comes in.”
To help reverse this trajectory, Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director of CAPPA, called on media practitioners to prioritise food policy reporting.
“Nutrition stories are not just lifestyle pieces; they are justice and survival stories. Frame them that way,” he said.
Oluwafemi, who noted that excessive sodium intake is a looming public health crisis, urged that the media must move beyond reporting to advocacy, helping Nigerians make informed food choices that could save millions of lives.
Joy Amafah, Country Coordinator for GHAI, said Nigeria’s shift from traditional, nutrient-rich diets to ultra-processed products (UPPs) has worsened the NCD burden.
“We are now consuming more products with minimal nutritional value and high salt, sugar, and trans fats, driven by aggressive marketing. The media must expose this,” she said.
The roundtable also served as a build-up to a digital engagement scheduled for June 28 via TX Space, themed Salt, Labels & Public Health: Addressing Nigeria’s Food Environment.
