Kano, Nigeria – Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are responsible for nearly 30 percent of all annual deaths in Nigeria, according to Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA).

Oluwafemi disclosed this alarming statistic during a journalism training workshop on the Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSB) Tax and Industry Monitoring held on Monday at BON Hotel in Kano. The training brought together media professionals to deepen their understanding of Nigeria’s growing NCD burden and the role of pro-health policies.

“Nigeria is facing an escalating public health crisis, driven largely by the consumption of ultra-processed foods—particularly sugar-sweetened beverages and high-sodium diets,” he said.

He warned that NCDs—such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases—are now affecting countless Nigerians, depleting household incomes, overburdening the healthcare system, and threatening the nation’s long-term development.

Oluwafemi criticized food and beverage corporations for targeting vulnerable demographics, especially children and young adults, through aggressive and sophisticated marketing tactics.

“These companies lure consumers into unhealthy eating habits that damage public health and cost the healthcare system billions of naira each year,” he stated.

To combat this, the Nigerian government introduced a N10 per litre tax on sugar-sweetened beverages in 2021. The policy, according to Oluwafemi, was designed to discourage excessive consumption, reduce sugar addiction, and curb the rising tide of related NCDs.

However, he noted that the measure is being undermined by several challenges:

• The tax threshold is too low to have significant impact;
• Misinformation campaigns by the SSB industry; and
• A lack of transparency in how tax revenues are utilized.

The CAPPA director emphasized that journalists play a critical role in addressing these issues by raising awareness and holding stakeholders accountable.

“Your reporting can ensure individuals—particularly at the grassroots level—are well-informed and protected from misleading narratives spread by vested corporate interests,” he told participants.

Oluwafemi urged media practitioners to pursue accurate, evidence-based, and investigative journalism to spotlight the health implications of dietary choices and advocate for stronger, people-centered public health policies.

Also speaking at the event, Dr. Amadi Dorothy, Deputy Director at the Non-Communicable Division of the Department of Public Health, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, echoed the call for a more engaged press.

“As advocacy for healthy food policies gains ground, the media’s role in enlightening the public and pushing back against industry propaganda is more vital than ever,” she said.

The training is part of a broader initiative to strengthen Nigeria’s public health framework through greater media engagement and civil society oversight of food industry practices.