The presidency is concerned over the plight of over 27.5 million Nigerians who were found to have hypertension due to excessive dietary sodium consumption.
The Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr. Salma Anas Ibrahim, in a keynote speech at the launch of *The National Guideline for Sodium Reduction* organized by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in Abuja, remarked that the situation increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), strokes, and their complications, such as end-stage renal diseases, among Nigerians.
She disclosed that globally, an estimated 1.8 million deaths and over 44 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost (including 40.5 million DALYs from CVDs, including stroke) are attributed to excess dietary sodium consumption as of 2019.
Represented by Dr. Sulaiman Lawani, she remarked that reducing dietary sodium is one of the most impactful and cost-effective mechanisms to improve population health and is one of the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) “best buys” for the prevention of chronic disease.
She posited that a modest 15% reduction in dietary sodium is estimated to prevent 8.5 million deaths over 10 years in 23 developing countries where 80% of chronic disease deaths in developing nations occur.
Stating that an analysis published in 2019 showed that a 30% reduction of sodium could save 40 million lives globally within 25 years, she added that Nigeria has taken steps like the National Multi-Sectoral Action Plan (NMSAP) for the Prevention and Control of NCDs, which incorporates evidence-based policies aligned with the WHO
Surveillance Harness Adopt Knowledge Environment (SHAKE) technical package for salt reduction.
She explained that the national sodium reduction programme in Nigeria includes setting limits on sodium content in packaged foods, mass media campaigns to educate the public on healthy eating, and regulations on food and beverage advertising, particularly when directed at children and adolescents.
“Nigeria is at a pivotal moment in its journey toward improved public health by launching this National Guideline for Sodium Reduction, which is in line with the National Policy on Food Safety and Quality and Its Implementation Plan (2023) as well as the National Multisectoral Action Plan on Non-Communicable Diseases (2019-2025),” she noted.
“Understanding the sources of dietary sodium is crucial for developing effective interventions to reduce sodium intake and mitigate its associated health risks. Effective implementation of the guideline will be a crucial step in addressing the high sodium intake levels in Nigeria.
“The overarching goal of the NCD-National Multi-Sectoral Action Plan is to reduce salt intake to less than 5g (1 teaspoonful) per day and consume 3-5 portions of varieties of fruits and vegetables per day (400 grams). Strategies to effectively reduce dietary sodium intake by 30% over the next 5 years through the implementation of the WHO’s
SHAKE technical package have been meticulously compiled into this national guideline, which will serve as an essential resource in advancing our collective objective of fostering a healthier nation.”
She said if effectively implemented through effective stakeholder collaboration, the guideline will help set sodium benchmarks for food categories to drive the reformulation of processed foods and encourage healthier options.
She thereby called on stakeholders to ensure effective citizens’ engagement and awareness creation activities to get Nigerians accustomed to tips for reducing sodium intake: reduce the amount of salt used when cooking, use salt-free seasonings or spices instead of salt, choose products with the lowest sodium content or those that state “no added salt” or “salt reduced,” eat more fruits and vegetables, prepare rice, pasta, beans, and meats from their most basic forms (dry and fresh) whenever possible.
She described the National Sodium Reduction Guideline as a strategic document that is crucial as a governance instrument to aid legislation, policies, and regulations to define essential elements that, when put in place and successfully implemented, will facilitate the efficient implementation of government strategies aimed at improving health and enhancing the quality of life for Nigerians.
The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, stated that research has shown that the average salt intake in Nigeria far exceeds the WHO’s recommended limit of 5 grams per day, with many communities consuming between 7 and 9 grams daily.
He acknowledged that the excessive overconsumption of sodium is directly tied to the alarming rise in hypertension, now affecting over 35% of adults in the country’s population, adding that the situation is exacerbated in urban areas where dining habits lean heavily toward saltier prepared meals, unconsciously risking Nigerians’ lives with dietary habits that could lead to devastating, long-term health consequences.
Mr. Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director of the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), who was among stakeholders that delivered a goodwill message at the occasion, believed that effective implementation of this guideline will help in no small measure in reducing excessive sodium intake and reducing cases of cardiovascular diseases and non-communicable diseases in Nigeria.
