As the world marks Salt Awareness Week, the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has urged the Federal Government to expedite the formulation and enforcement of salt reduction regulations for processed and packaged foods, citing growing health risks associated with excess sodium consumption.
In a statement issued to commemorate the global health awareness week, CAPPA pointed to alarming figures linking high salt intake to the rising incidence of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and kidney failure in Nigeria.
The group stressed that reducing salt consumption is one of the most cost-effective interventions for improving public health, referencing World Health Organization (WHO) data.
According to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Nigerians consume an average of 7 to 9 grams of salt daily—well above the WHO-recommended limit of 5 grams.
This overconsumption has been attributed to at least 10 percent of cardiovascular disease-related deaths in the country.
Hypertension now affects more than 35 percent of Nigerian adults.
“This is too heavy a burden for the health sector to bear,” said Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director of CAPPA. “The issue is a major contributor to Nigeria’s alarming burden of noncommunicable diseases.”
Oluwafemi reaffirmed CAPPA’s support for the National Guideline for Sodium Reduction launched by the Ministry and called for greater backing of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), which is currently developing the salt reduction regulations.
He also highlighted the growing consumption of ultra-processed foods high in salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats, blaming cultural shifts, urbanization, and misleading marketing for the trend.
World Salt Awareness Week, observed from May 12 to 18, seeks to raise public awareness about the dangers of excessive salt intake and promote healthier eating habits.
