A health food advocate and expert, Abayomi Sarumi, has called on the Federal Government to accelerate regulations aimed at protecting Nigerians from unhealthy diets and improving healthcare.
Sarumi, the Associate Director of the Food Justice and Healthy Food Policy Programme at Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), made the statement in Abuja on Wednesday.
He emphasized that there are many areas to address, including legislative frameworks, regulatory processes, and policy directions needed to drive change, speed up implementation, and reshape the food environment.
Sarumi recalled that in 2023, Nigeria approved and gazetted trans-fat regulations to protect citizens from consuming industrially produced trans fatty acids or partially hydrogenated oils. He also noted that the country imposed a N10/litre tax on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs), with ongoing efforts targeting additional regulations.
“All these initiatives are working behind the scenes with one goal – to protect Nigerians from the dangers of unhealthy diets and improve our quality of life. However, the government must speed up its efforts,” he said.
The expert criticized producers of SSBs and ultra-processed foods for reinventing their products with enticing names while hiding the health risks.
“As we wait for government action, individuals must take responsibility—read food labels, scrutinize advertising claims, listen to experts, and prioritize healthy eating over fizzy drinks,” Sarumi advised.
He condemned the complacency of producers who deny the health dangers and blame consumers for their choices, claiming their false advertising and misinformation mislead the public.
“These companies fund biased research, manipulate media, and lobby policymakers through tactics like Deny, Dilute, and Delay. When these efforts fail, they rally citizens against the government,” he explained.
He added that these corporations justify taxes as economic support while ignoring the health costs borne by consumers.
“They shift blame onto the public when supporting policies that promote health, often exploiting vulnerable populations to increase their profits,” Sarumi said.
Recently, CAPPA launched a documentary titled ‘Sweet Poison,’ highlighting the dangers of SSB consumption in Nigeria.
“SSBs, often called soft drinks, have a damaging impact on health despite their name,” Sarumi explained.
The documentary aims to advocate for healthier policies, raise awareness, and expose the false narratives pushed by industry interests.
He pointed out that many Nigerians are aware of the risks associated with ultra-processed foods but underestimate the extent of harm.
In the opening scenes of ‘Sweet Poison,’ a university student claims her menstrual flow will eliminate excess sugar, suggesting it ‘cleans’ her body. An older woman in the film admits she drinks sodas simply for happiness, despite knowing they offer no benefits.
Sarumi questioned, “What is the true cost of this ‘placebo happiness’?”
He highlighted that science shows SSBs have no nutritional value and are a primary source of excess added sugar, leading to blood sugar spikes and vascular stress.
Short-term, this increases the risk of non-communicable diseases; long-term, it results in chronic health issues requiring lifelong management.
He also emphasized the financial burden of managing these diseases, noting that Nigeria faces rising rates of both communicable and non-communicable illnesses.
“Chronic disease management is challenging everywhere, including Nigeria,” Sarumi concluded.
