A cardiovascular disease researcher, Ms Aminat Dosunmu, has called for immediate national action to address Nigeria’s growing burden of hypertension.
In a report released on Wednesday titled “Hypertension: Nigeria’s Silent Epidemic – An Urgent Call for National Action,” Dosunmu warned that the condition has become one of the deadliest health threats facing the country.
She said an estimated 27 million to 39 million Nigerian adults are living with high blood pressure, with prevalence rates ranging from 22 to 44 per cent across different regions.
Describing hypertension as a “silent killer,” Dosunmu explained that the condition often presents no symptoms until severe complications such as stroke, kidney disease, heart failure, or sudden death occur.
“Despite its scale, awareness remains low. Only about 29 per cent of Nigerians living with hypertension know their status,” she said, adding that treatment and control rates range between 12 and 33 per cent.
Dosunmu attributed the rising prevalence to a combination of genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors, including high salt intake, physical inactivity, obesity, alcohol consumption, smoking, and increasing socioeconomic stress.
“The cost of inaction is already evident. Hypertension is no longer just a medical issue; it is a development crisis for Nigeria. When millions live with uncontrolled blood pressure, the consequences ripple beyond hospitals into families, workplaces, and the entire economy,” she said.
She noted that effective prevention requires lifestyle changes supported by population-wide interventions, regular community screening, and stronger public awareness campaigns.
Dosunmu urged the government to prioritize hypertension control by strengthening primary healthcare services and providing free or subsidized blood pressure checks and medications.
She also called for the establishment of a National Blood Pressure Surveillance System to track prevalence trends and guide coordinated national response efforts.
