By JKNewsMedia
SUPPORT HAS strengthened for regulatory action to cut sodium levels in pre-packaged foods as Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa reaffirmed its backing for the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director, CAPPA, gave the assurance during a stakeholders’ engagement on proposed sodium reduction regulations, where he also congratulated the agency’s Director General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, on achievements recorded under her leadership.
“We are delighted to be here today, and all I can say to you, Madam DG, is congratulations,” Oluwafemi said. “I want to assure you of our commitment to advocacy that strengthens public health.
“We stand with NAFDAC and will continue to do so as you take difficult but necessary decisions to protect the health of Nigerians.”
The one-day engagement held in Lagos on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, brought together key stakeholders and was convened by NAFDAC in collaboration with the Network for Health Equity and Development.
A press statement signed by Robert Egbe, Media and Communications Officer of CAPPA, stated that in her welcome address, Prof. Adeyeye said the engagement reflected a shared commitment between the agency and stakeholders to safeguard public health and strengthen Nigeria’s food regulatory framework.
“As you are aware, diet related non communicable diseases such as hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and stroke are on the rise globally and within Nigeria,” she said. “Excessive sodium intake has been identified as one of the leading dietary risk factors contributing to these conditions.”
Dr. Jerome Mafeni, Technical Advisor at NHED, highlighted the growing burden of non communicable diseases, warning that increasing incidences among younger populations pose a significant threat to the country’s future.
The statement also noted that in 2025, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare launched the National Sodium Reduction Guideline (NSRG) to establish mandatory sodium limits in processed and pre packaged foods.
The guideline aims to reduce average daily sodium intake to under 2 grams per person, equivalent to 5 grams of salt, by 2030, alongside a 25 per cent reduction in hypertension prevalence.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that global partners including the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), the World Health Organization (WHO), and Resolve to Save Lives (RSL) described the engagement as timely and critical.
They urged NAFDAC to sustain its efforts in safeguarding public health while commending the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for its leadership.
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