Nigeria Aims for 30% Sodium Reduction in Five Years

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a plan to reduce sodium consumption by 30% over the next five years as part of efforts to address the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Femi Stephen, the lead for food safety at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, revealed that the average daily sodium intake in Nigeria currently stands at 3.9 grams, nearly double the World Health Organization's recommended limit of 2 grams.

The newly developed sodium reduction guidelines are part of a broader national food safety quality policy aimed at addressing nutritional risks. The government plans to achieve at least a 15% reduction in high-salt products and will implement multiple interventions, including setting sodium benchmarks for different food categories and promoting product reformulation.

Akinbod Oluwafemi, Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, emphasized the need for stronger sodium reduction policies and public awareness to combat health risks associated with excessive salt consumption, particularly hypertension.