By The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has called on the Nigerian government to adopt tougher measures to regulate the marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages, warning that decisive action is needed to curb rising obesity rates and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
In a statement issued on Tuesday to mark World Obesity Day 2026, themed “8 billion reasons to act on obesity,” the organisation described obesity as one of the world’s most urgent public health challenges. It cited projections indicating that nearly half of the global population , about four billion people, could be living with overweight and obesity by 2035.
CAPPA noted that Nigeria is not immune to the trend, pointing to shifting dietary patterns, rapid urbanisation and the growing consumption of ultra-processed foods as key drivers reshaping the country’s food environment.
The group warned that the widespread availability and aggressive promotion of foods high in sugar, salt and trans fats are fuelling increases in obesity, diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. Citing data published by the National Library of Medicine, CAPPA stated that as of 2020, more than 21 million Nigerians aged 15 years and above were overweight, while over 12 million were classified as obese.
It expressed concern over the targeted advertising of unhealthy products to children and young people through television, digital platforms, in-school promotions and outdoor campaigns, particularly during festive periods.
“The aggressive promotion of ultra-processed foods to children is deliberate,” the organisation said, referencing its report titled Unhealthy Food Hijack of Festive Periods in Nigeria. It alleged that food and beverage corporations are shaping taste preferences early to secure lifelong consumers.
CAPPA urged federal and state authorities to enact and enforce policies restricting the marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children across all platforms.
The organisation also called on the National Assembly to review the country’s Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSB) tax upward, arguing that the current rate is too low to significantly reduce consumption. It proposed an increase to 50 per cent of the retail price, in line with recommendations by the World Health Organization, stating that stronger fiscal measures would discourage excessive intake while generating revenue for health financing.
Beyond taxation, CAPPA advocated for mandatory Front-of-Pack Labelling (FOPL) to clearly warn consumers when products are high in sugar, salt or unhealthy fats. It said such labelling would enable informed consumer choices and encourage product reformulation by manufacturers.
The organisation further called for the development and enforcement of a national salt reduction regulation, noting the link between excessive sodium intake and hypertension, a major risk factor for stroke and heart disease.
“Protecting present and future generations from diet-related diseases requires effective policies, firm regulation and political will that puts people before profit,” CAPPA stated..
