Advocacy groups push salt targets, food warning labelling as NCD deaths hit 29% A coalition of public health advocacy groups has called on federal and state governments to prioritise public health by introducing mandatory salt reduction targets and front-of-pack warning labels for all processed and pre-packaged foods to safeguard consumers from preventable diet-related diseases. The groups urged authorities to enforce mandatory salt targets, implement clear front-of-pack warning labels, restrict the marketing of ultra-processed foods to children, strengthen product monitoring and enforcement mechanisms, and intensify public education campaigns aimed at promoting healthier dietary habits. The organisations — the Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED), the Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI), and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) — said such measures have become necessary as Nigeria faces a rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). According to the coalition, about 29 per cent of deaths in the country are now linked to conditions such as hypertension, heart disease and kidney failure. The call was made on Sunday as the groups marked the 2026 World Consumer Rights Day, drawing attention to the growing health risks associated with unhealthy diets. In a joint statement, the coalition stressed that urgent regulatory action is required to curb excessive salt consumption and ensure that consumers are adequately informed about the nutritional content of foods available in the market. They identified excessive salt consumption as a major contributor to the trend, noting that the average Nigerian consumes about 10 grams of salt daily, nearly double the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommended limit of five grams. The groups said the 2026 global theme for World Consumer Rights Day, “Safe Products,” underscores the responsibility of governments to ensure that food products do not pose hidden health risks. According to them, foods high in salt, especially when the information is not clearly displayed, cannot be considered safe for consumers. “Nigerians deserve to know exactly what is in their food through clear, easy-to-understand warning labels on the front of packages, not buried in complex technical jargon written at the back of the pack,” the coalition said. They argued that clearer front-of-pack warning labels would help consumers quickly identify products high in salt, sugar or unhealthy fats and make healthier choices. While commending the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare for launching the National Guidelines for Sodium Reduction in 2025, the groups said stronger enforcement measures are required to meet Nigeria’s target of reducing salt consumption by 30 percent by 2030. “Consumers cannot be confident about the products they buy if critical nutrition information is hidden or difficult to understand. “Clear front-of-pack labelling and meaningful salt reduction policies are essential tools to help Nigerians identify unhealthy products and make better dietary choices,” the statement said. The organisations added that many commonly consumed processed and packaged foods such as noodles, snacks, bouillon cubes, frozen foods, bread and salad dressings contain high levels of salt, yet consumers often struggle to identify these products because nutritional information is either unclear or difficult to interpret. They said mandatory front-of-pack labelling, which uses simple symbols or warning signs on packaging, has proven effective in several countries in helping consumers determine whether foods are high in salt, sugar or unhealthy fats. The coalition also stressed that food safety should not be limited to preventing contamination but should include protecting consumers from excessive levels of harmful nutrients. “Food safety must go beyond contamination and extend to nutritional safety. When foods contain dangerously high levels of salt without clear warnings, consumers are denied their right to make informed choices about their health,” the groups said. They called on the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Council (FCCPC), and the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) to enforce mandatory salt reduction targets, introduce front-of-pack warning labels, restrict the marketing of ultra-processed foods to children, strengthen monitoring of food products and expand public education campaigns on healthy diets. The organisations said such measures align with international best practices and are necessary to address the growing burden of NCDs in Nigeria. They also urged consumers to pay closer attention to food labels and demand healthier options from food manufacturers. “Protecting consumers means ensuring that the food sold in our markets supports health rather than undermines it. Policies that promote salt reduction and transparent food labelling are cost-effective tools for safeguarding the health of millions of Nigerians,” the groups said.