FG Declares War Against Excessive Salt Intake By Nigerians The federal government has launched the National Guideline for Sodium Reduction to curb the health risks related with excessive salt intake in Nigeria.
Speaking at the launch on Wednesday in Abuja, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, revealed the average salt consumption in Nigeria far exceeds the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) suggested limit.
Represented by Olubunmi Aribeana, Director of Food and Drug Services, Salako noted that urbanisation has enlarged the intake of processed and packaged foods, worsening the preeminence of hypertension, which affects over 35% of Nigerian adults.
“This guideline establishes clear sodium limits in processed and packaged foods, aligning with global health standards,” he stated.
Dr. Salma Anas Ibrahim, Special Adviser to the President on Health, expressed similarity over the 27.5 million Nigerians suffering from hypertension due to excessive salt consumption. Represented by Dr. Sulaiman Lawani, she emphasised that reducing dietary sodium is a cost-effective strategy to combat chronic diseases.
The Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Akinbode Oluwafemi, revealed effective implementation of the guideline will significantly reduce cardiovascular diseases and non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Other health experts, containing Joy Amafa-Isaac of Global Health Advocacy Incubator and Dr. Adeolu Adebiyi of the Africa Food Policy Programme, revealed sodium lessening policies are vital in reversing the growing burden of NCDs.
Category: World-News
Tag: FG Declares War Against Excessive Salt Intake By Citizen
Written by Author
Published 3/27/2025