Civil society organisations have called on the Federal and state governments to introduce mandatory salt reduction targets and clear front-of-pack food labelling to help protect Nigerians from diet-related diseases.
The call was made in a joint statement issued to commemorate World Consumer Rights Day, observed globally under the theme “Safe Products, Confident Consumers.” The statement was jointly signed by the Network for Health Equity and Development, the Centre for Communication and Social Impact, and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa.
The groups expressed concern over the growing burden of Non‑Communicable Diseases in Nigeria, noting that about 29 per cent of deaths in the country are linked to conditions such as hypertension, heart disease and kidney failure. They attributed the trend partly to excessive salt consumption, stating that the average Nigerian consumes about 10 grams of salt daily—almost double the five-gram daily limit recommended by the World Health Organization.
According to the coalition, consumers have the right to know what is contained in the foods they buy, stressing that nutrition information should be clearly displayed on the front of food packages rather than hidden in technical labels at the back.
While commending the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for launching the National Guidelines for Sodium Reduction in 2025, the organisations urged the government to move beyond guidelines to strict enforcement in order to achieve a 30 per cent reduction in national salt intake by 2030.
They noted that many commonly consumed processed foods—including noodles, bread, snacks and bouillon cubes—contain high levels of salt, making it difficult for consumers to make healthier choices without clear warning labels.
The groups therefore called on regulatory agencies such as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Council, and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria to enforce mandatory salt limits, introduce front-of-pack warning labels, restrict the marketing of ultra-processed foods to children and strengthen monitoring of food products.
They also urged Nigerians to pay attention to food labels and demand healthier options from food manufacturers, stressing that stronger policies on salt reduction and transparent labelling are essential to safeguard public health.
The organisations reaffirmed their commitment to collaborating with government agencies and public health stakeholders to promote a healthier food environment, emphasising that consumer protection must ensure that food products support health rather than contribute to disease.