By Favour Chioma
As Nigeria joins the global community to mark World Heart Day 2025, the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has urged federal and state governments to adopt stronger policies on unhealthy foods, sugary drinks, and tobacco products to curb the rising burden of cardiovascular and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
CAPPA’s Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, emphasized that effective policies—not just individual choices are critical to reversing alarming health trends. He called on authorities to:
- Enforce national salt reduction targets,
- Raise the sugar-sweetened beverage tax to at least ₦130 per litre,
- Place bold warning labels on ultra-processed foods,
- Restrict junk food and tobacco marketing, especially to children, and
- Increase tobacco taxes to 100%.
“These are proven, cost-effective measures that will save lives and protect families from devastating health and financial burdens,” Oluwafemi said.
Nigeria’s cardiovascular health crisis remains severe. An estimated one-third of adults live with high blood pressure, rising to 40% in some regions, with many undiagnosed or poorly managed. Treatment is also scarce and costly, with only 80 cardiac surgeons serving over 200 million people and heart surgery costs exceeding ₦5 million, far beyond the reach of most families.
CAPPA stressed that Nigeria cannot rely on personal responsibility alone but must create healthier environments through decisive government action.
“Protecting our hearts means protecting the country’s future,” the group concluded.
