The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised fresh alarm over excessive salt consumption, unveiling plans to enforce strict limits on sodium in pre-packaged foods as part of sweeping regulations expected in 2026.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, ssued the warning at a stakeholders’ meeting, cautioning that rising intake of sodium-rich processed foods was fuelling a surge in non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including hypertension, stroke and heart conditions across Nigeria.
She said the proposed regulations, which aligns with guidance from the World Health Organisation (WHO), would set maximum sodium thresholds for selected food categories, mandate clearer labelling and push manufacturers to reformulate products to healthier standards.
“With urbanisation and changing diets, Nigerians are consuming far more sodium than is safe. This is a major public health threat,” Adeyeye said, stressing that regulation alone would not suffice without industry cooperation and consumer awareness.
The Director of Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, NAFDAC, Eva Edwards, quoting data presented at the meeting, which showed that average salt intake in Nigeria stands at about 10 grams per day, which is double of the WHO’s recommended limit of less than five grams and heightening risks of cardiovascular diseases, described the situation as urgent.
While noting that processed and ultra-processed foods are now major contributors to excessive sodium intake, particularly in urban areas, she disclosed that the new framework would adopt a phased reduction strategy, starting with a 15 percent cut in sodium levels and progressing toward a 30 percent national reduction target by 2030.
The initiative, developed in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and public health partners, is expected to undergo further review before the final approval and gazetting.
Adeyeye noted that the move was not aimed at stifling industry but at safeguarding public health. “Reducing sodium in our food supply is not optional, it is a national priority. The decisions we take today will determine the health of future generations,” she said.
She added that feedback from stakeholders at the meeting would be incorporated into the draft before it is presented to NAFDAC’s Governing Council, followed by further scrutiny by relevant government bodies, signaling that implementation could begin soon with industry already put on notice to align with the impending standards.