Nigeria is facing a growing public health emergency as chronic non-communicable diseases—particularly type 2 diabetes—continue to rise, driven largely by poor diets and increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods.
Health experts warn that while the country has long battled infectious diseases, a nutritional transition is now fuelling a silent epidemic with serious national and economic implications.
According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), diabetes prevalence among Nigerian adults aged 20–79 stood at 3% in 2024—equivalent to about 3 million people. This is the highest number of adults living with diabetes in Africa. However, recent systematic reviews suggest the actual figure may be closer to 6–7%, pushing the national burden to as high as 8 million due to widespread underdiagnosis and subnational disparities.
The World Health Organisation estimates that nearly half of adults with diabetes in Nigeria are unaware of their condition, contributing to rising cases of cardiovascular disease, kidney failure, and untimely deaths. Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) now dominate the country’s disease burden, responsible for almost 600 deaths per 100,000 people annually—surpassing communicable diseases for the first time.
Poor diets are at the heart of the crisis. The 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) found that 41% of children aged 6–23 months consume sugar-sweetened beverages, 24% regularly eat unhealthy foods, and only 12% receive meals with adequate dietary diversity—exposing them early to harmful nutritional habits. The 2024 Global Food Policy Report also noted that nearly 80% of Nigerians could not afford a healthy diet in 2022, underscoring deep structural inequalities in food access.
Public health advocates say the cost of inaction is immense, with unhealthy diets contributing to trillions in global productivity losses and escalating healthcare costs. They argue that government intervention is essential to correct market incentives that favour the production and marketing of unhealthy foods.
A comprehensive shift in Nigeria’s food environment is urgently needed. Experts call for a strengthened sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) tax to discourage excessive consumption while generating revenue for nutrition initiatives. They also recommend subsidies for fresh produce, stricter advertising regulations—especially for products targeted at children—and the implementation of clear Front-of-Pack Labels (FOPL) to help consumers make informed choices regardless of literacy level.
The National Policy on Food Safety and Quality, launched in 2024, must be enforced in schools, hospitals, and other public institutions to eliminate sugary drinks and ultra-processed foods from daily diets. Stakeholders also warn that the National Policy on Food and Nutrition (2016–2025), which aims to reduce diet-related NCDs by 25% by 2025, is unlikely to meet its targets without more decisive action.
As World Diabetes Day 2025 approaches, experts emphasise that Nigeria must act swiftly to prevent the convenience of modern food systems from eroding the nation’s long-term health.
Ibitoye, Programme Officer for Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSB) Tax at Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), writes from Abuja.
