By Tina Chinyere – Portharcourt
As the world marks World Food Day 2025, the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has called on governments at all levels to strengthen food regulations and implement policies that protect Nigerians from the rising consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and unhealthy beverages.
In a statement commemorating the day and signed by the Media and Communication Officer, Robert Egbe, CAPPA warned that more Nigerians especially children, adolescents, and young adults are being targeted by aggressive marketing campaigns promoting nutrient-poor, heavily processed foods deceptively packaged as healthy and convenient.
“The result is a worrying nutrition transition away from traditional, wholesome diets toward unhealthy dietary patterns that fuel the country’s rising burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and kidney failure,” the group stated.
World Food Day, observed annually on October 16, commemorates the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations in 1945. This year’s theme, “Hand in Hand for Better Foods and a Better Future,” highlights the need for cooperation and evidence-based policies to ensure access to affordable, safe, and nutritious food for all.
CAPPA’s Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, described Nigeria’s declining life expectancy now in the mid-50s as a “wake-up call” reflecting systemic failures across the nation’s food, health, and social systems.
“This tragic statistic demands urgent policy and regulatory action,” Oluwafemi said, expressing concern that corporations continue to exploit digital platforms, school sponsorships, celebrity endorsements, and cultural affiliations to normalize the consumption of unhealthy foods.
Citing its recent report titled “Junk On Our Plates: Exposing Deceptive Marketing of Unhealthy Foods Across Seven States in Nigeria,” CAPPA revealed that both multinational and local corporations employ misleading nutrition claims, manipulative labelling, and socially targeted promotions especially in low-income communities where access to nutritious alternatives is limited.
“These strategies not only promote unhealthy products but also erode Nigeria’s traditional food culture. We cannot address our declining life expectancy or the growing epidemic of NCDs without confronting this toxic marketing environment head-on, ” Oluwafemi added.
To curb the trend, CAPPA proposed several urgent interventions, including: Front-of-Pack Labelling (FOPL) to help consumers make informed choices. Effective taxation of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) to reduce consumption and fund health programmes.
Mandatory sodium reduction targets for processed and pre-packaged foods. Comprehensive restrictions on marketing unhealthy foods and drinks to children, including on digital and virtual platforms.
Higher taxes and stricter regulations on tobacco, e-cigarettes, and nicotine products, particularly in youth-oriented media spaces.
“Evidence shows that these measures improve public health, reduce healthcare costs, and boost productivity,” the statement said.
CAPPA concluded by urging Nigerian authorities to prioritise people’s health over corporate profits.
“As we mark World Food Day 2025, we must put people before profit. By implementing healthy food policies and regulations, Nigeria can move decisively toward a future where every citizen—especially our children—can live longer, healthier, and more dignified lives.
