Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, CAPPA has supported the Diabetes Association of Nigeria, DAN in urging the federal government to declare a national emergency on diabetes care.
It also called for an increase in the sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) tax, alongside other healthy-food policies as the world commemorates the 2025 World Diabetes Day,
CAPPA described as “alarming” recent reports that an estimated 30,000 Nigerians die yearly from diabetes, while approximately 11.4 million others are living with the disease. This is significantly higher than the International Diabetes Federation’s estimate of roughly 2.99 million adults with diabetes in Nigeria.
The NGO expressed concern that the average monthly cost of diabetes management now ranges between N100,000 and N120,000, making proper care unattainable for many Nigerians, particularly in the current economic climate.
“This is yet another troubling statistic on Nigeria’s noncommunicable disease (NCD) burden and the state of the country’s public health system,” CAPPA stated. “It is no wonder that Nigeria’s life expectancy is the lowest globally, according to the latest UN global health report.”
Executive Director of CAPPA, Akinbode Oluwafemi, emphasized that unhealthy diets and sugary drinks are major drivers of NCDs. He warned that without decisive policy interventions, future generations risk lifelong dependence on high-sugar products, leading to obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and early mortality.
CAPPA urged the government to implement an effective SSB tax, sodium reduction targets, mandatory front-of-pack labelling (FOPL), and restrictions on marketing ultra-processed foods to children. These measures, the group said, are proven to reduce NCD risk, generate health-sector revenue, and empower consumers to make informed dietary choices.
“The Federal Government’s efforts to channel revenues from taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and other harmful products into health financing are significant,” Oluwafemi said. “Dedicating these funds to NCD prevention and management would provide the predictable resources Nigeria urgently needs.”
This year’s World Diabetes Day, themed “Diabetes across life stages,” highlights that diabetes can affect individuals at every stage of life, including during pregnancy. CAPPA’s ongoing campaigns for an SSB tax of at least N130 per litre and mandatory nutrition labelling are part of a broader effort to create healthier food environments and protect Nigerians from aggressive industry practices.