By Opeyemi Ibitoye
The global health landscape is undergoing a silent yet profound shift. Where infectious diseases once dominated, a new wave of chronic conditions—non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease—is taking their place, driven in large part by what we eat. The price of convenience and the ubiquity of cheap, ultra-processed foods are creating a dual public health crisis. Nigeria must now confront not only hunger, but also the nutritional quality of every meal.
Nigeria faces a significant and rapidly escalating diabetes burden. According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the national prevalence among adults aged 20–79 was estimated at 3% in 2024—around 3 million adults—giving Nigeria the highest absolute number of adults with diabetes in the African region.
However, recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses suggest that the true burden may be considerably higher, with pooled prevalence estimates of 6% to 7%, or as many as 8 million adults. This reflects substantial subnational variation and widespread underdiagnosis. Nearly half of adults with diabetes in Nigeria remain undiagnosed, fuelling complications such as heart disease, kidney failure, and premature death, according to the World Health Organisation. Diabetes now accounts for a major share of the country’s NCD burden, placing immense strain on both primary and specialist care. Globally, NCDs remain the leading cause of death, with premature deaths disproportionately concentrated in low- and middle-income countries. Poor diets high in salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats are a central driver, costing trillions in lost productivity and healthcare spending.
Early nutrition patterns reveal deep systemic challenges. The 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) reported that 41% of children aged 6–23 months consume sugar-sweetened beverages, 24% consume unhealthy foods, and only 12% meet minimum dietary diversity. Such early exposure to poor-quality diets lays the foundation for lifelong health risks.
Additionally, the 2024 Global Food Policy Report revealed that nearly 80% of Nigerians could not afford a healthy diet in 2022, underscoring deep affordability and accessibility gaps. Tragically, NCDs are now responsible for nearly 600 deaths per 100,000 Nigerians, surpassing communicable diseases as the leading cause of mortality.
The rationale for strong policy action is neither moral nor academic alone—it is an economic imperative. When profit motives promote the mass production and aggressive marketing of nutritionally poor foods, especially to vulnerable populations, government intervention becomes essential. Effective food policies are not an infringement on personal choice; they are mechanisms to internalize the societal costs of poor diets—costs currently borne by the health system and the economy, not by manufacturers.
Nigeria’s food environment must be reshaped through coordinated fiscal, regulatory, and institutional measures. An effective sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) tax can deter consumption while generating revenue for nutrition programs. Concurrently, subsidies for fresh produce can improve access and affordability. Marketing and information regulations must also be strengthened. Aggressive advertising of high-fat, high-sugar, and high-salt foods—especially to children—should be restricted.
Mandatory front-of-pack labels (FOPL) can empower consumers by simplifying nutrition information and overcoming literacy barriers. The National Policy on Food Safety and Quality, launched in 2024, must translate into tangible standards for schools, hospitals, and other public institutions, eliminating sugary drinks and unhealthy foods from their menus.
As the National Policy on Food and Nutrition (2016–2025) nears its endpoint, it is evident that key targets, including reducing diet-related NCDs by 25% by 2025, are unlikely to be met. This underscores the need for a revised and transformative policy for the next decade. Implementing bold, evidence-based measures—from SSB taxes to marketing restrictions and clear warning labels—can transform Nigeria’s food system from a driver of disease into a foundation for health and national productivity.
To make World Diabetes Day 2025 meaningful, Nigeria must act decisively to ensure that the convenience of modern foods does not come at the cost of public health.
Opeyemi Ibitoye is the Programme Officer, Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) Tax, at Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Abuja.
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