Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, CAPPA has urged the Federal Government to prioritise affordable, nutritious food in its food security policies, warning that increased agricultural production will not end hunger if millions of Nigerians cannot access healthy diets.
The organisation, in a statement to mark World Food Day 2026, said insecurity in farming communities, post-harvest losses and gaps in transportation and distribution continued to undermine food access despite Nigeria’s position as a leading producer of crops such as cassava and yam.
It called on the government to measure food security not only by the volume of food produced or available in markets, but also by whether households can afford safe and nutritious meals.
CAPPA, citing National Bureau of Statistics data on the rising cost of healthy diets, also raised concerns about the marketing of ultra-processed foods and beverages high in sugar, salt and unhealthy fats, arguing that these products could undermine efforts to improve nutrition.
“Food security must mean more than having something to eat. It must also mean having access to food that nourishes the body, protects health and supports human development. Nigerians should not have to choose between feeding their families and providing them with nutritious meals,” the organisation said.
It warned that excessive consumption of sugar, sodium and unhealthy fats is associated with health risks, including obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
The group urged the government to strengthen regulations to protect consumers, including an effective sugar-sweetened beverage tax, clear front-of-pack warning labels, sodium-reduction targets, restrictions on marketing unhealthy foods to children and measures to eliminate industrially produced trans fats.
CAPPA specifically called on the House of Representatives to pass the Customs, Excise Tariffs, etc. (Consolidation) Act Amendment Bill, also known as the Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax Bill, following the Senate’s action on the measure.
It said the proposed tax could discourage excessive consumption of sugary drinks while generating domestic revenue to support the country’s health system.
The organisation also called on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC and other relevant authorities to strengthen food labelling and product regulation, saying front-of-pack warning labels would help consumers make informed choices.
Children, it added, require stronger protection from the promotion of unhealthy foods and beverages through digital advertising, influencer marketing and promotions around schools.
On agricultural production, CAPPA urged the government to invest in local food systems, smallholder farmers, agroecological practices, storage facilities, processing and distribution networks to reduce post-harvest losses and improve access to fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains.
It also called for transparent food policy decisions, safeguards against conflicts of interest and greater public participation, warning against relying on the ultra-processed food industry to resolve nutrition challenges when commercial interests may conflict with public health.
The organisation noted that the Federal Government was reviewing the National Policy on Food and Nutrition, which covered 2016 to 2025, and pursuing a National Food and Nutrition Bill to protect nutrition financing.
With the 2026 World Food Day theme, “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow,” CAPPA said innovation must extend beyond food production to effective regulation, stronger public institutions and sustainable food systems that make nutritious diets more accessible and affordable.