LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), Akinbode Oluwafemi, has commended the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, for achievements recorded under her leadership, especially ongoing efforts to develop sodium reduction policies aimed at protecting public health.
Speaking at a stakeholder engagement on proposed regulations to cut sodium levels in pre-packaged foods on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, in Lagos, Oluwafemi reaffirmed CAPPA’s support for NAFDAC.
The one-day meeting, organized by NAFDAC in collaboration with the Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED), brought together key stakeholders, public health advocates, and regulators across sectors to advance sodium reduction rules targeting rising disease risks in Nigeria.
Oluwafemi used the opportunity to restate CAPPA’s commitment to public health advocacy and continued collaboration with the regulator.
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“We are delighted to be here today, and all I can say to you, Madam DG, is congratulations. 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,” he said.
In her remarks, Prof. Adeyeye said the engagement reflects a joint effort to strengthen Nigeria’s food safety system and protect citizens. She warned that unhealthy diets, coupled with high sodium intake are driving a steady rise in serious illnesses.
“As you are aware, diet-related non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and stroke are on the rise globally and within Nigeria. Excessive sodium intake has been identified as one of the leading dietary risk factors contributing to these conditions,” she said.
Adding to the discussion, NHED Technical Advisor, Dr. Jerome Mafeni, noted that cases of such diseases are increasing among younger people, creating new health concerns for the country’s future generations.
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To address the challenge, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare introduced the National Sodium Reduction Guideline in 2025. The policy sets clear targets to reduce sodium in processed foods, aiming to bring average daily intake below 2 grams per person by 2030 and lower hypertension rates by 25 percent.
Notably, global partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO), Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), and Resolve To Save Lives (RTSL), commended the Nigerian government’s leadership in advancing public health through NAFDAC’s efforts to reduce the burden of preventable diseases.
Concluding, they described the engagement as timely and important, while calling for sustained action to improve health outcomes nationwide.
