World Heart Day: CAPPA Urges Government To Tackle Junk Food, Sugary Drinks and Tobacco
Heart disease remains one of Nigeria’s deadliest yet preventable killers, and experts say policy, not just personal choice, holds the key to reversing the trend.
As the world marks World Heart Day 2025 tomorrow, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has called on the federal and state governments to urgently adopt strong healthy food and tobacco control policies to curb cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
The group urged authorities to enforce salt reduction targets, raise the sugar-sweetened beverages tax to at least ₦130 per litre, place bold warning labels on ultra-processed foods, restrict junk food and tobacco marketing, especially to children, and increase tobacco taxes to 100 per cent.
“These are proven, cost-effective measures that will save lives and protect families from devastating health and financial burdens,” said Akinbode Oluwafemi, CAPPA’s Executive Director.
Nigeria is already grappling with alarming statistics. About one-third of adults live with high blood pressure, rising to 40 per cent in some regions, while many remain undiagnosed or poorly managed.
With only 80 cardiac surgeons serving over 200 million people, and heart surgery costs climbing beyond ₦5 million, treatment remains out of reach for most families.
CAPPA stressed that Nigeria cannot rely on individual responsibility alone but must create healthier environments through decisive government action.
“Protecting our hearts means protecting the country’s future,” the statement concluded.
