By Gabriel Ameh
A coalition of public health advocacy organisations has urged federal and state governments to introduce mandatory salt reduction targets and front-of-pack warning labels for processed and pre-packaged foods to help curb diet-related diseases in Nigeria.
The groups Network for Health Equity and Development, Centre for Communication and Social Impact, and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa made the call while marking World Consumer Rights Day 2026, noting that about 29 percent of deaths in Nigeria are now linked to non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, heart disease and kidney failure.In a joint statement, the coalition stressed that excessive salt consumption remains a major public health concern, revealing that the average Nigerian consumes around 10 grams of salt daily almost double the five-gram limit recommended by the World Health Organization.
The organisations called for urgent regulatory action, including clearer front-of-pack warning labels to help consumers easily identify foods high in salt, sugar and unhealthy fats.
They also urged restrictions on the marketing of ultra-processed foods to children, stronger monitoring of food products and expanded public education campaigns on healthy diets.
While commending the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for launching the National Guidelines for Sodium Reduction in 2025, the coalition said stronger enforcement measures are needed to meet Nigeria’s target of reducing salt consumption by 30 percent by 2030.
The groups also urged agencies such as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Council, and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria to strengthen monitoring and enforce policies that promote healthier food choices.
They added that many widely consumed products including noodles, snacks, bouillon cubes, bread and frozen foods contain high levels of salt, often without clear and easily understandable nutritional warnings for consumers.
According to the coalition, effective salt reduction policies and transparent food labelling are essential tools to help Nigerians make informed dietary choices and reduce the growing burden of non-communicable diseases across the country.
