Sodium: CAPPA, stakeholders back NAFDAC to curb hypertension

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By Chioma Obinna

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Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, CAPPA, and other stakeholders have thrown their weight behind the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, on proposed sodium reduction regulations aimed at tackling the rising burden of hypertension and other diet-related diseases in Nigeria.

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CAPPA’s Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, gave the assurance during a stakeholders’ engagement on sodium reduction in pre-packaged foods, commending the leadership of NAFDAC’s Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye.

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“We are delighted to be here today, and all I can say to you, Madam DG, is congratulations,” Oluwafemi said. “I want to assure you of our commitment to advocacy that strengthens public health. We stand with NAFDAC and will continue to do so as you take difficult but necessary decisions to protect the health of Nigerians.”

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The one-day engagement, convened by NAFDAC in collaboration with the Network for Health Equity and Development, NHED, brought together key stakeholders in the health and regulatory sectors.

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In her remarks, Adeyeye said the engagement underscores a shared commitment to safeguarding public health and strengthening Nigeria’s food regulatory framework.

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“As you are aware, diet-related non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and stroke are on the rise globally and within Nigeria,” she said. “Excessive sodium intake has been identified as one of the leading dietary risk factors contributing to these conditions.”

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She stressed the need for urgent and coordinated action to reduce sodium consumption and improve health outcomes nationwide.

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Also speaking, NHED Technical Advisor, Dr. Jerome Mafeni, warned that non-communicable diseases are increasingly affecting younger populations, posing a significant threat to the country’s future.

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Stakeholders at the meeting rallied support for the proposed sodium regulations, describing them as critical to reversing the growing prevalence of hypertension and related illnesses.

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In 2025, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare launched the National Sodium Reduction Guideline, aimed at setting mandatory sodium limits in processed and pre-packaged foods. The guideline seeks to reduce average daily sodium intake to below 2 grams per person, equivalent to 5 grams of salt, by 2030, alongside a 25 per cent reduction in hypertension prevalence.

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Global partners, including the Global Health Advocacy Incubator, the World Health Organisation, and Resolve to Save Lives, described the move as timely and urged sustained efforts to safeguard public health.

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They also commended the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for its leadership in addressing diet-related health risks.

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