A coalition of public health advocates has warned the Federal Government against the growing use of ultra-processed foods as vehicles for food fortification, cautioning that the approach could worsen Nigeria’s rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
The coalition, comprising the Coalition for Healthy Food Advocacy and the National Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Tax Coalition, raised the alarm on Wednesday during a press conference in Abuja themed “Drawing Attention to Public Health Dangers of Fortifying Ultra-Processed Foods.”
The group urged the government to urgently review its fortification strategy to ensure that nutrition policies do not inadvertently promote unhealthy consumption patterns among Nigerians.
Technical Advisor at the Network for Health Equity and Development, Dr. Jerome Mafeni, expressed concern over the fortification of high-sodium products such as seasoning cubes, which are widely consumed across households.
He noted that Nigerians already consume nearly double the recommended daily sodium intake, warning that positioning such products as part of the nutrition solution presents a contradiction in public health policy.
“A fortified cube is still a high-sodium risk.
Adding micronutrients does not remove its core health danger,” Mafeni said, cautioning that fortification could encourage increased consumption.
Also speaking, Professor Dike Ojji of the University of Abuja highlighted the scale of the crisis, noting that cardiovascular diseases account for about 10 to 11 per cent of all deaths in Nigeria.
He added that hypertension affects between 25 and 30 per cent of Nigerians, linking the trend to high salt intake and the growing consumption of ultra-processed foods.
Ojji warned that the country’s healthcare system is already under pressure and may struggle to cope with the long-term costs associated with treating chronic diseases.
While acknowledging that food fortification remains a valid tool for addressing micronutrient deficiencies, the coalition stressed that its effectiveness depends largely on the choice of food vehicles.
Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, Mr. Akinbode Oluwafemi, warned that fortifying unhealthy foods creates a misleading “health halo,” which may give consumers the false impression that such products are beneficial.
The coalition also raised concerns about the broader implications for Nigeria’s food system, warning that reliance on industrial food products could sideline local farmers and weaken traditional diets that are naturally nutrient-rich.
It further noted that the burden of care arising from NCDs often falls disproportionately on women, particularly in low-income households, affecting their economic and social wellbeing.
The group called for urgent policy reforms, including the introduction of front-of-pack warning labels on unhealthy foods and restrictions on misleading “fortified with” claims.
It also advocated stronger taxation of sugar-sweetened beverages, as well as increased investment in local, wholesome and nutrient-dense food systems.
The coalition urged the government to align its policies with the national target of reducing sodium intake by 30 per cent by 2030, stressing that public health strategies must prioritise long-term wellbeing.
“Public health policy must reduce risk, not repackage it,” the coalition stated.