As the world marks World Diabetes Day, the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has backed the call by the Diabetes Association of Nigeria (DAN) for the federal government to declare a national emergency on diabetes care.
The call further demands an upward revision of the sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) tax, amongst other life-saving healthy food policies.
In a statement on Friday, November 14, by its Media and Communication Officer, Robert Egbe, CAPPA stated that no fewer than an estimated 30,000 Nigerians die yearly from diabetes, describing it as “alarming”.
It further expressed worries that as many as 11.4 million others are currently living with the debilitating disease.
This is even worse than the International Diabetes Federation’s (IDF) estimate of roughly 3.0 per cent, with approximately 2.99 million adults living with diabetes in the country.
The non-governmental organisation (NGO) lamented that media report shows the average monthly cost of diabetes management “now stands at between N100,000 and N120,000”.
It said this had made proper management of the disease impossible for most patients, spelling a death sentence for many impoverished Nigerians.
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“This is yet another troubling statistic on the state of Nigeria’s noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) burden, and the country’s public health system.
“It is no wonder that Nigeria’s life expectancy is the lowest globally, according to the latest United Nations (UN) global health report,” CAPPA said.
The NGO stressed that the alarming rise in diabetes cases, combined with the poor life expectancy, underscores the urgency for sweeping policy measures targeting unhealthy diets, particularly the consumption of SSBs and other diabetes risk factors.
“In this context, we at CAPPA fully support the call by the Diabetes Association of Nigeria (DAN) for the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on diabetes care, and to significantly raise the sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) tax, with all proceeds channelled into strengthening the health sector,” CAPPA’s Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said.
He said CAPPA’s support is hinged on the facts that unhealthy diets and sugary drinks drive NCDs risk, while the aggressive marketing and wide availability of sugary drinks and highly processed foods are changing dietary environments across Nigeria.
Oluwafemi warned that without decisive policy intervention, the country risks generations developing lifelong dependence on high-sugar drinks, leading to obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and early mortality.
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The NGO maintained that an effective SSB tax, sodium reduction targets, front-of-pack labelling (FOPL), restriction of ultra-processed foods marketing to kids, among other sound healthy-food policies, are proven tools to lower Nigeria’s NCDs burden.
It noted, however, that even the strongest prevention policies require a health system capable of supporting the millions already living with diabetes and other NCDs.
“This is why the Federal Government’s ongoing effort to channel revenues from taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and other harmful products into health financing is significant.
“Dedicating these revenues to initiatives such as NCD prevention and management would provide the predictable funding Nigeria urgently needs, especially as the costs of treating diseases like diabetes continue to push families deeper into poverty,” the CAPPA boss stated.
The organisation reiterated that its ongoing campaigns for an SSB tax of at least N130 per litre and mandatory front-of-pack nutrition labelling align with international evidence.
It emphasised that higher taxes reduce SSB consumption, encourage product reformulation, and generate revenue for health-sector investment, while front-of-pack labels empower consumers to make informed choices.
It added that together, these measures shape healthier food environments and can shield Nigerians from the aggressive tactics of the big food industry.
Pinnacle Daily reports that this year’s World Diabetes Day, marked on Friday, with the theme ‘Diabetes across life stages’, highlights that diabetes can affect people at every moment of life, including during pregnancy.
Alex is a business journalist cum data enthusiast with the Pinnacle Daily. He can be reached via ealex@thepinnacleng.com, @ehime_alex on X
