As Nigeria joins the global community to commemorate World Salt Awareness Week 2026, the Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED), Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), alongside partners under the Coalition for Healthy Food Advocacy, have called for stronger measures to tackle excessive salt consumption and promote healthier food environments across the country.

Speaking during a media briefing on Thursday in Abuja, NHED Country Director, Emmanuel Sukpo, lamented that many Nigerians consume more salt than recommended, often unknowingly, due to the increasing presence of hidden salt in processed and packaged foods commonly consumed daily.

Sukpo stressed the need to address the growing burden of hypertension, stroke, heart disease, and other non-communicable diseases linked to excessive sodium intake.

He noted that foods such as seasoning cubes, instant noodles, processed snacks, bread, fast foods, and processed meats contribute significantly to sodium consumption and increase the risk of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.

According to him, reducing excessive salt consumption remains one of the simplest, most affordable, and most effective public health interventions for preventing avoidable illnesses and deaths.

He further called for stronger public awareness campaigns, improved food-labelling systems, healthier food policies, and sustained collaboration among government, civil society organisations, the media, and other stakeholders to support healthier diets and informed food choices.

Also speaking, NHED Technical Lead, Dr Jerome Mafeni, highlighted the public health implications of excessive sodium consumption, warning that hypertension continues to pose a major health challenge in Nigeria.

He explained that many people are unaware of the amount of sodium they consume daily because excessive salt is increasingly hidden in everyday processed and packaged foods.

Mafeni stated that the burden of hypertension in Nigeria cannot be separated from the food environments consumers are exposed to daily, adding that public education and healthier food systems are critical to improving health outcomes.

He stressed the need for clearer nutrition information, sodium reduction initiatives, and healthier food environments that encourage healthier choices for consumers.

Speaking on behalf of the Executive Director of CAPPA, Programme Officer Bukola Olukemi Odele emphasised the importance of consumer protection, accountability, and stronger food policies in promoting healthier diets.
She noted that consumers deserve access to clear and understandable nutrition information that enables informed food choices and protects public health.

Odele further called for stronger accountability measures and policies that prioritise public health, while encouraging sustained public awareness and media engagement on issues relating to food systems and nutrition.

The Coalition for Healthy Food Advocacy reiterated that reducing excessive salt consumption requires collective action involving government agencies, civil society organisations, the media, the food industry, and consumers themselves.