Abuja: Experts have emphasised the urgent need for Nigeria to adopt robust policies to combat the growing burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). This call was made on Wednesday during a media roundtable hosted by by Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED) in Abuja.
The roundtable focused on strengthening Nigeria’s healthy food policy environment through sodium reduction advocacy and introducing Front-of-Pack Warning Labels (FOPWL).
Key recommendations among the experts were reducing sodium in food products and implementing FOPWL, which would empower consumers with clearer nutritional information.
According to the experts, these measures are critical to improving public health outcomes by reducing excessive sodium intake, a significant risk factor for hypertension, heart disease, and stroke.
Dr Joseph Ekio, a Global Health Resource Person, noted that excessive sodium intake significantly contributed to elevated blood pressure, a leading cause of cardiovascular diseases.
“As it stands today, cardiovascular diseases, along with cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory illnesses, make up the majority of NCD cases.
“NCDs have become the leading cause of disease and death globally,” Ekio said.
He added that low—and middle-income countries like Nigeria bear a disproportionate share of the NCD burden, stressing the need for urgent intervention.
“Excessive salt intake falls under unhealthy diets, so it is imperative to take action on salt reduction.
“There can be no effective intervention without policy. All hands must be on deck to address this issue comprehensively,” he said.
Ekio also highlighted the media’s vital role in raising awareness, educating the public, and promoting behavioural change.
“It’s not just about passing pro-health and pro-poor regulations; there must be political will to implement and sustain them.
“Results take time and require consistent effort,” he said.
He further pointed out that salt consumption is often a domestic habit, and individuals are frequently unaware of government guidelines.
“The value of awareness and health education cannot be overemphasised.
“For behavioural change to happen, the public must repeatedly hear the right message.
“The key is not to eliminate salt but to reduce its intake. Salt is essential for the body, but moderation is crucial,” he said.
Abayomi Sarumi, Associate Director of the Food Justice Programme at Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, also emphasised the media’s role in advocacy.
“The discussion around salt intake and its dangers must be media-led.
“People need to understand that excess salt intake is more than just sweaty palms or a risk of hypertension; it’s a serious health threat,” Sarumi said.
He added that misinformation, cultural beliefs, and traditional norms often obscured the health risks, making accurate media reporting even more essential.
Joy Amafah, Country Coordinator of the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, also contributed to the discussion.
She criticised the aggressive marketing of ultra-processed products (UPPs), saying they contributed to the rising NCD burden in Nigeria and across Africa.
Amafah stressed the importance of policy interventions, such as Nutrition Profile Modelling (NPM), Front-of-Pack Warning Labels, and sodium reduction.
She also highlights the critical role of the media in raising public awareness.