Amid escalating health concerns over the rise of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular illnesses, the Federal Government has been urged to take decisive action by enforcing mandatory labeling of salt and sugar content in processed food and beverage products.
This call was made in Lagos by Mr. Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director of the pan-African NGO Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), during the unveiling of a new investigative report titled “Junk on Our Plates.” The report sheds light on the disturbing influence of food and beverage corporations on Nigeria’s eating habits and food culture.
Oluwafemi expressed deep concern over the powerful role food giants play in shaping dietary patterns through aggressive advertising, celebrity endorsements, cultural hijacking, and widespread distribution networks. These tactics, he said, are deliberately crafted to boost consumption of highly processed, sugar-laden, and sodium-rich foods—often at the expense of natural, indigenous, and healthier alternatives.
“These companies are not just selling products; they are selling a food culture that thrives on addiction, misinformation, and profit,” Oluwafemi stated. “Their business model favors the promotion of ultra-processed, calorie-dense foods that lack essential nutrients but guarantee longer shelf life and higher profitability.”
The Junk on Our Plates report also uncovers how children and low-income communities are being disproportionately targeted by these corporations, who deploy manipulative marketing tactics to lock in lifelong brand loyalty. “Through deceptive packaging and unregulated marketing, especially to children and youth, these companies are undermining public health and overwhelming our already fragile healthcare system,” he added.
While acknowledging the Federal Government’s initial steps—such as the introduction of the N10 per litre Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) Tax—Oluwafemi insists that more robust and far-reaching measures are urgently needed. He called for the tax to be significantly increased to N130 per litre to make sugary drinks less financially appealing, and recommended the implementation of a national sodium reduction strategy.
To further protect Nigerian consumers, particularly vulnerable populations, CAPPA urged authorities to adopt the following bold interventions:
Enforce mandatory front-of-pack labeling with clear, readable warnings on sugar, salt, and fat content.
Impose strict limits on the permissible quantities of salt and sugar in food products.
Launch state-funded public awareness campaigns to educate citizens on the dangers of processed foods, free from industry interference.
Ban or regulate the advertising of unhealthy foods, especially in media accessible to children and teenagers.
“The time has come for Nigeria to take back control of its food systems,” Oluwafemi declared. “We must prioritize the health and well-being of our citizens over the profits of multinational food companies. If we fail to act, we risk condemning future generations to a lifetime of preventable diseases and healthcare debt.”
The urgent plea from CAPPA echoes growing global calls for transparent food labeling and stronger food regulations as countries battle the epidemic of diet-related diseases. For Nigeria, experts say, the solution lies not just in awareness, but in firm, uncompromising policies that put public health first.
