Ken Okeke
As Nigeria joins the global community to mark World Salt Awareness Week 2026, the Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED), Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI), and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) have called on the Nigerian government to implement sodium reduction initiatives and prioritise access to safe, healthy, and nutritious foods.
The organisations, in a joint statement issued on Tuesday, said this year’s theme, “6 Ways to 6 Grams,” is a timely reminder of the urgent need to reduce excessive salt consumption, which continues to fuel the rising burden of hypertension, stroke, heart disease, kidney failure and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Nigeria.
The campaign encourages governments, industry, communities and individuals to adopt practical measures aimed at reducing daily salt intake to the recommended limit of five grams or less.
According to the group, Nigeria is facing a growing public health crisis linked to unhealthy diets and increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods high in sodium, sugar and unhealthy fats.
Citing publicly available data, the organisations noted that Nigerians consume an estimated 3.8 grams of sodium (or about 10 grams of salt) daily, almost double the World Health Organisation’s recommended limit of 2 grams of sodium (or about 5 grams of salt) per day.
“Excess salt consumption is no longer a silent issue. It is now a major public health emergency contributing to the alarming rise in hypertension and cardiovascular diseases across the country,” said Babafunke Fagbemi, Executive Director of CCSI.
She emphasised that reducing sodium intake must become a national health priority, backed by enforceable policies that include mandatory sodium targets, front-of-pack warning labels, and stronger public awareness campaigns.
Dr Jerome Mafeni, Technical Advisor of NHED, noted that Nigeria’s healthcare system is already under pressure from the growing burden of non-communicable diseases and may struggle to cope with the long-term social and economic costs if urgent preventive measures are not implemented.
Speaking on behalf of CAPPA, its Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, noted that while efforts to address micronutrient deficiencies are important, nutrition policies must also remain aligned with broader public health goals.
“As Nigeria responds to nutrition challenges, we must also ensure that food policies do not unintentionally encourage increased consumption of ultra-processed foods linked to rising cases of diet-related non-communicable diseases,” he said.
The organisations urged the Federal Government, particularly the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and other key stakeholders to take proactive steps to protect Nigerians from harmful food environments.
Among other measures, the coalition demanded the enforcement of mandatory salt targets for processed foods, front-of-pack warning labels on ultra-processed products, greater public education campaigns on the dangers of excessive salt consumption, and increased support for healthier food environments.
The groups also urged Nigerians to adopt healthier dietary habits by incorporating natural spices such as ginger, curry, fish powders, turmeric, amongst others; reducing the use of added salt and seasoning cubes; increasing consumption of fresh foods, fruits and vegetables; and paying closer attention to food labels for healthier options.
“As we mark World Salt Awareness Week, we must recognise that healthy diets are not just a matter of personal choice but also of public policy,” the statement noted. “The government has a responsibility to create food environments that protect health rather than undermine it.”
World Salt Awareness Week 2026 runs from May 11–17, 2026, focusing on reducing dietary salt intake to improve public health outcomes. The campaign encourages the public and the food industry to “Salt It Out” to prevent high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, heart disease, stroke and kidney damage.