Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), an NGO, has called for a national emergency on diabetes care and an increase in the sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) tax.
The organization, supporting the Diabetes Association of Nigeria (DAN), urged the Federal Government to implement urgent and life-saving public health policies.
Its Executive Director, Mr. Akinbode Oluwafemi, made the call in a statement issued by CAPPA’s Media and Communication Officer, Mr. Robert Egbe, on Friday in Abuja.
Oluwafemi spoke against the backdrop of the 2025 World Diabetes Day commemorations.
He described as alarming the recent disclosure by DAN’s president that an estimated 30,000 Nigerians die from diabetes annually, with as many as 11.4 million others currently living with the disease.
According to him, this figure is even higher than the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimate, which puts Nigeria’s diabetes prevalence at roughly 3 per cent, with about 2.99 million adults affected.
He also expressed concern that the average monthly cost of diabetes management now ranges between N100,000 and N120,000, according to media reports.
“This has made proper management of the disease impossible for most patients and amounts to a death sentence for many Nigerians impoverished by the poor economy.
“This is yet another troubling statistic on the country’s growing noncommunicable disease burden and the weakness of Nigeria’s public health system.
“It is no surprise that Nigeria’s life expectancy is now the lowest globally, according to the latest United Nations global health report,” he said.
Oluwafemi said the rising diabetes burden and declining life expectancy underscored the need for sweeping policy measures targeting unhealthy diets, especially the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and other risk factors.
“In this context, we at CAPPA fully support DAN’s call for the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on diabetes care.
“The government should significantly raise the SSB tax and channel all proceeds into strengthening the health sector,” he said.
He said CAPPA’s position was based on evidence that unhealthy diets and sugary drinks fuel noncommunicable diseases, adding that aggressive marketing and widespread availability of ultra-processed foods were reshaping dietary habits across Nigeria.
Without urgent intervention, he warned, Nigeria risked raising generations dependent on high-sugar beverages, leading to rising obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and premature deaths.
“An effective SSB tax, sodium reduction targets, front-of-pack labelling, and restrictions on marketing ultra-processed foods to children are proven tools to reduce Nigeria’s NCD burden.
“Even the strongest prevention policies require a health system capable of supporting the millions already living with diabetes and other NCDs,” he said.
Oluwafemi commended ongoing Federal Government efforts to channel revenue from taxes on tobacco, alcohol and other harmful products back into health financing.
He said dedicating these funds to NCD prevention and care would help reduce the financial burden on families struggling with the rising cost of managing chronic illnesses.
