World Salt Week: Federal Govt Urged To Tackle Ultra-processed Foods Fuelling NCDs

As Nigeria joins the global community to commemorate World Salt Awareness Week 2026, the Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED), Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI), and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), have called on the federal government to urgently implement stronger sodium reduction policies to curb the country’s rising burden of Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs).

In a joint statement issued Tuesday, the organisations said this year’s theme, “6 Ways to 6 Grams,” underscores the growing health risks posed by excessive salt intake, which continues to drive hypertension, stroke, heart disease, kidney failure and other NCDs across the country.

According to the group, Nigeria faces a worsening nutrition crisis fuelled by the widespread consumption of ultra-processed foods high in sodium, sugar and unhealthy fats. Citing publicly available data, they noted that Nigerians consume an average of 3.8 grams of sodium, equivalent to nearly 10 grams of salt—daily, almost double the World Health Organisation’s recommended limit of 2 grams of sodium (5 grams of salt).

“Excess salt consumption is no longer a silent issue. It is now a major public health emergency contributing to the alarming rise in hypertension and cardiovascular diseases across the country,” said  Executive Director of CCSI, Babafunke Fagbemi,

She stressed that reducing salt intake must become a national priority supported by mandatory sodium limits, front-of-pack warning labels and expanded public education campaigns.

Technical Advisor at NHED, Dr. Jerome Mafeni, warned that Nigeria’s overstretched healthcare system may be unable to cope with the long-term social and economic costs of unchecked diet-related diseases if preventive measures are not urgently implemented.

Executive Director of CAPPA, Akinbode Oluwafemi, added that while tackling micronutrient deficiencies is important, nutrition policies must also align with broader public health goals. “As Nigeria responds to nutrition challenges, we must ensure that food policies do not unintentionally promote the consumption of ultra-processed foods linked to rising diet-related NCDs,” he said.

The coalition urged key government bodies: the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, NAFDAC, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and other regulators, to take proactive steps to improve Nigeria’s food environment.

Their recommendations include enforcing mandatory salt targets for processed foods, introducing warning labels on ultra-processed products, intensifying salt-reduction campaigns and supporting healthier food systems.

They also encouraged Nigerians to make healthier dietary choices by using natural spices such as ginger, curry, turmeric and fish powders; limiting added salt and seasoning cubes; increasing consumption of fresh foods, fruits and vegetables; and checking food labels before purchase.

“As we mark World Salt Awareness Week, we must remember that healthy diets are not just a matter of personal choice but of public policy. Government has a responsibility to create food environments that protect health rather than undermine it,” the statement added.

World Salt Awareness Week 2026 runs from May 11–17, promoting practical steps to reduce dietary salt consumption to prevent hypertension, heart disease, stroke and kidney damage.