By Nchetachi Chukwuajah
The National Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) says Nigerians consume an average of about 10 grammes of salt daily, which is nearly twice the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommended limit of five grammes.
NAFDAC stated that excessive salt consumption among Nigerians is linked to the rising cases of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and stroke in the country.
This was disclosed at a stakeholders’ engagement on the draft Reduction of Sodium in Pre-Packaged Foods Regulations 2026, held on Tuesday, April 7.
In her presentation at the engagement, the Director of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition at NAFDAC, Eva Edwards, added that data from the National Multi-sectoral Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (2019–2025) shows sodium intake in Nigeria ranges between 2.85 grammes and 10 grammes per day.
Global health estimates show that non-communicable diseases account for about 29 per cent of all deaths in Nigeria, with cardiovascular diseases accounting for a larger share, necessitating urgent intervention.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, in her remarks, described high salt intake as one of the leading dietary risk factors for preventable deaths globally and in Nigeria.
Adeyeye cited guidance from the WHO, which identifies salt reduction as one of the most cost-effective interventions to improve population health and reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases.
She attributed the trend in overconsumption of salt to rapid urbanisation, changing diets and increased reliance on processed and pre-packaged foods.
“Pre-packaged foods now form a growing share of daily diets, especially in urban areas. While convenient, they contribute significantly to excessive sodium intake,” she said.
Among the public health experts at the meeting were representatives from the Cardiovascular Unit of the University of Abuja, who warned that high salt consumption is directly linked to hypertension, stroke, kidney disease and heart failure.
NAFDAC proposed new regulations to address the problem and moved to “set maximum sodium limits for selected food categories, mandate clear labelling of sodium content and encourage gradual reformulation of products by manufacturers.”
According to the agency, the policy includes a phased reduction strategy, beginning with a 15 per cent cut in sodium levels, and aligns with the WHO global target of a 30 percent reduction in population sodium intake by 2030.
The NAFDAC DG, however, stressed that regulation alone would not be sufficient without industry cooperation, urging regulators, researchers, and consumer groups to also ensure compliance and monitoring.
Adeyeye described salt reduction as a national health priority and warned that failure to act could worsen Nigeria’s already strained health system.
