The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised concern over excessive sodium consumption in Nigeria, linking it to rising cases of hypertension, stroke and other non-communicable diseases.
Director-General Mojisola Adeyeye issued the warning at a stakeholders’ meeting on the draft “Reduction of Sodium in Pre-Packaged Foods Regulations 2026,” describing high salt intake as a major preventable health risk.
She referenced the World Health Organization guideline, which recommends limiting sodium intake as a cost-effective way to reduce premature d+aths from lifestyle diseases.
NAFDAC official Eva Edwards said Nigerians consume about 10g of salt daily, nearly double the WHO limit of 5g, with national estimates ranging from 2.85g to 10g.
Experts from the Cardiovascular Unit of the University of Abuja warned that excessive sodium is strongly linked to hypertension, kidney failure, heart disease and stroke. Non-communicable diseases now account for about 29% of d+aths in Nigeria.
NAFDAC said the rise is driven by increased consumption of processed and packaged foods, especially in urban areas.
To address this, the agency proposed regulations to set sodium limits in selected foods, enforce clearer labelling, and push gradual reformulation by manufacturers. The plan begins with a 15% reduction and aligns with the WHO target of a 30% global cut by 2030.
Civil society groups including Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa and Network for Health Equity and Development backed the move, urging urgent action.
Adeyeye said regulation must be supported by cooperation from industry and consumers, adding that stakeholder input will be reviewed before the draft is forwarded for approval and gazetting.
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