World Cancer Day: CAPPA Tasks FG, States On Healthy Food Policies

As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark World Cancer Day 2025, the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has called on the federal and state governments to implement stronger food and public health policies.

CAPPA said these policies would help in reducing Nigerians’ exposure to ultra-processed foods, excessive sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), tobacco, and high salt consumption, major risk factors contributing to the country’s rising cancer burden.

In a statement issued by its media and communications officer, Robert Egbe, CAPPA highlighted the urgent need for regulatory measures to address the country’s growing cancer crisis.

The National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment estimates that the country records over 120,000 new cancer cases annually, while the National Cancer Prevention and Control Plan (2018-2022) reports that Nigerians spend approximately N12 billion yearly on cancer treatment. These alarming figures, the organisation noted, call for immediate government intervention through preventive policies.

CAPPA’s executive director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, stressed the importance of creating healthy food environments backed by effective regulations to promote better dietary choices.

He emphasised that tackling cancer risk factors requires a combination of fiscal policies to discourage unhealthy food consumption, incentives to encourage healthier diets, and stricter tobacco control measures.

The advocacy group recommended an upward review of the current N10 per liter SSB tax to N130, arguing that this would significantly increase the retail prices of sugary drinks, reduce excessive consumption, and generate revenue for healthcare interventions.

It also urged the government to implement national guidelines to lower salt intake, which is linked to a higher risk of stomach cancer and other health complications. And enforce stricter regulations on emerging tobacco products targeted at young people and allocate more resources to the tobacco control fund to support enforcement efforts and public awareness campaigns.

Oluwafemi further noted that while tobacco use remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally, excessive consumption of sugary drinks is associated with obesity-related cancers, such as kidney and colon cancer, while high salt intake increases the risk of stomach cancer. He stressed that comprehensive public health policies, alongside public awareness campaigns, are necessary to curb these risks.