As Nigeria joined the global community to commemorate World Salt Awareness Week 2026, the Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED), Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), and partners under the Coalition for Healthy Food Advocacy have called for stronger measures to curb excessive salt consumption and promote healthier food environments across the country.
Call for Action on Salt Reduction
Briefing journalists in Abuja, NHED Country Director Emmanuel Sokpo warned that many Nigerians consume more salt than recommended, often unknowingly, due to hidden salt in processed and packaged foods. He stressed the need to tackle the growing burden of hypertension, stroke, heart disease, and other non-communicable diseases linked to excessive sodium intake.
Sokpo noted that products such as seasoning cubes, instant noodles, processed snacks, bread, fast foods, and processed meats contribute significantly to sodium consumption and increase the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. According to him, reducing excessive salt intake remains one of the simplest, most affordable, and most effective public health interventions for preventing avoidable illnesses and deaths.
Public Awareness and Policy Changes Needed
Sokpo also called for stronger public awareness, improved food-labelling systems, healthier food policies, and sustained collaboration among government, civil society, the media, and other stakeholders to encourage healthier diets and informed food choices.
NHED Technical Lead Dr Jerome Mafeni highlighted the public health implications of excessive sodium consumption, warning that hypertension remains a major health challenge in Nigeria. He explained that many people are unaware of the amount of sodium they consume daily because high levels of salt are increasingly hidden in everyday processed and packaged foods.
Food Environments and Consumer Protection
Mafeni stated that the burden of hypertension in Nigeria is closely linked to the food environments consumers are exposed to daily, adding that public education and healthier food systems are critical to improving health outcomes. He stressed the need for clearer nutrition information, sodium reduction initiatives, and healthier food environments that support healthier consumer choices.
Speaking on behalf of CAPPA’s Executive Director, Programme Officer Bukola Olukemi Odele emphasised the importance of consumer protection, accountability, and stronger food policies in promoting healthier diets. The coalition urged the government to implement mandatory sodium reduction targets for processed foods and to enforce clear front-of-pack labelling to help consumers make informed choices.
World Salt Awareness Week 2026 serves as a reminder of the urgent need to address excessive salt consumption, which is a leading risk factor for hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. The health groups reiterated their commitment to advocating for policies that create healthier food environments and reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases in Nigeria.
