As Nigeria grapples with a growing burden of non-communicable diseases, health and environmental advocates are warning that the roots of the crisis may lie in children’s plates.

The Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI) cautioned that unless urgent changes are made to eating patterns, particularly among children, the country risks deepening a public health emergency that already accounts for about 30 per cent of all deaths nationwide.

The group argues that food choices formed early in life play a decisive role in shaping long-term health outcomes and could determine whether Nigeria reverses or accelerates its rising rates of heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

According to RDI, preventive nutrition anchored on the planetary health diet offers a viable pathway to addressing Nigeria’s growing non-communicable disease (NCD) burden, at a time when poor diets and increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods are fuelling preventable deaths across the country.

The group made the call in Lagos during a training on effective reporting of the Planetary Health Diet (PHD), which brought together journalists and civil society organisations. The session focused on strengthening media engagement around food systems, public health and sustainability, recognising the press as a powerful driver of public behaviour and policy action.

Speaking at the event, RDI’s Executive Director, Philip Jakpor, said the training was designed with journalists in mind because of their dual role as watchdogs of society and conduits for public enlightenment.

“The media has enormous influence in shaping how people understand food, health and the environment,” Jakpor said. “If reporting improves, public awareness improves, and that can drive better policy decisions and healthier choices.”

He explained that the planetary health diet is a scientifically backed dietary pattern developed to promote human health while safeguarding the environment. The approach emphasises plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds, while discouraging excessive consumption of red meat, refined sugars and highly processed foods.

Jakpor noted that while global conversations on planetary health diets have gained momentum, Africa’s representation remains limited despite the continent’s vast arable land and agricultural potential. This, he said, has contributed to a paradox in which countries like Nigeria face both malnutrition and a surge in diet-related chronic illnesses.

Data presented at the training underscored the scale of the challenge. Non-communicable diseases were responsible for about 30 per cent of annual deaths in Nigeria, with more than 617,000 fatalities recorded in 2020 alone. Of these, roughly 22 per cent were premature deaths among people aged between 30 and 70. The trend persisted in 2021, when cardiovascular diseases alone accounted for 190,897 deaths, overtaking many infectious diseases that once dominated Nigeria’s health landscape.

Experts at the session attributed the shift to rapid urbanisation, lifestyle changes and increased reliance on convenience foods, warning that illnesses previously considered rare on the continent have become widespread as traditional diets give way to energy-dense, nutrient-poor alternatives.

Participants were introduced to the planetary health diet as a global reference diet developed by the EAT-Lancet Commission, designed to show how populations can eat in ways that nourish both people and the planet. The diet prioritises plant-based foods, favours unsaturated fats over saturated fats, and limits refined grains, added sugars and starchy vegetables.

Experts clarified that the planetary health diet is not strictly vegetarian and does not require the total exclusion of animal-sourced foods. Rather, it is a plant-forward model that can be adapted to local geography, cultural practices and individual needs. Nigeria’s diverse food traditions, including vegetable-rich meals common in many southern communities, were cited as opportunities for contextualised adoption.

Sessions on impactful reporting encouraged journalists to link dietary choices not only to health outcomes such as reduced risks of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, but also to environmental benefits, including lower greenhouse gas emissions, reduced land degradation and protection of biodiversity.

Participants were also urged to report transparently on criticisms of the planetary health diet, including concerns about potential nutritional gaps such as iron intake among women of reproductive age. Experts stressed that these challenges could be addressed through strategies such as food fortification and the appropriate inclusion of animal-sourced foods.

The training further introduced the EAT-Lancet Commission 2.0 report, which expands the planetary health framework to incorporate social justice and equity, recognising that food system transformation must account for income levels, access and cultural realities.