The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has urged Nigerians to reduce their consumption of salt, warning that excessive intake is a major contributor to life-threatening diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and stroke.
This call came during a journalism training held in Lagos titled “Salt Target and Front of Pack Warning Label (FOPWL) Journalism Training on Response Building”, which brought together about 50 journalists from online, print, and broadcast media.
In his opening remarks, CAPPA Executive Director Akinbode Oluwafemi emphasized the dangers posed by poor dietary habits: “Illnesses like hypertension, diabetes, and stroke have become widespread, and much of this burden can be traced to what fills our plates. People are consuming heavily processed foods, high in salt and sugar, and poorly labelled,” he said.
Bukola Olukemi, CAPPA’s Project Officer for Cardiovascular Health, identified salt, sugar, and fats as “nutrients of concern,” highlighting the shift among Nigerians from traditional diets to ultra-processed foods.
She called for stricter regulations to keep food manufacturers within healthy limits, noting that many product labels and advertisements remain misleading.
Abayomi Sarumi, Associate Director for Healthy Food Policy, revealed that CAPPA is intensifying its public health campaign through media engagement, community outreach, partnerships, and collaborations with the Federal Ministry of Health and NAFDAC.
He added that radio jingles will soon be produced in Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa, and appealed to religious leaders to help spread the message in their communities.
Public health consultant Dr. Joseph Ekiyor, referencing a World Health Organisation (WHO) report, noted that “1.6 billion lives could be saved annually through salt reduction”, adding that “excessive salt intake contributed to 43 million deaths in 2021.”
He also warned against health influencers who endorse junk food while claiming to promote wellness, urging consumers to verify product labels before purchasing.
Tessy Maina from the Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED) explained that the Coalition for Healthy Food Advocacy was created to unify efforts and avoid duplication in the fight for safer food environments.
Robert Egbe, CAPPA’s Media and Communication Officer, encouraged journalists to combat industry misinformation with facts from credible agencies like NAFDAC and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and to reframe public health advocacy into compelling news stories.
