health
Nigeria’s Rising Diet Crisis: Journalists Trained on Planetary Health Diet as NCD Deaths Surge
Journalists and civil society groups in Nigeria have been urged to play a stronger role in reshaping the country’s food system, as new data shows non-communicable diseases now account for nearly one-third of all deaths nationwide.
The call was made on 15th January 2026 at a training on Effective Reporting of the Planetary Health Diet, organised by Food Justice and the Renevelyn Development Initiative in Lagos.
The session brought together local and international experts to examine how food choices affect health outcomes, environmental sustainability and public policy and why journalists are central to driving change.
Why this matters
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer are now responsible for 30% of all deaths in Nigeria, with more than 617,000 fatalities recorded in 2020.
About 22% of those deaths were premature, affecting people between the ages of 30 and 70, according to data shared at the training.
Cardiovascular diseases alone caused over 190,000 deaths in 2021, overtaking many infectious diseases that once dominated Nigeria’s health landscape.
Experts say poor diets, urban lifestyles and rising consumption of processed foods are accelerating the crisis.
Training journalists to tell the food story better
Opening the session, Mr Philip Jakpor, who delivered the welcome address, said the goal was to equip journalists with the knowledge needed to report accurately on the Planetary Health Diet (PHD).
“This training is about helping journalists understand what the planetary health diet really means for Nigeria and how it goes beyond the traditional idea of a balanced diet,” he said.
He explained that while last year’s engagement focused on government ministries, this year’s convening was deliberately targeted at journalists and civil society organisations.
“The media shapes public understanding. If journalists get this right, policies and behaviour will follow,” he added.
What is the Planetary Health Diet?
The Planetary Health Diet is a science-based reference diet developed by the EAT-Lancet Commission, designed to improve human health while reducing environmental damage.
It emphasises fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, nuts and seeds, while limiting red and processed meat, refined sugars and ultra-processed foods.
Experts at the session stressed that the diet is not strictly vegetarian, but encourages moderation and sustainability.
Children at the centre of the crisis
Speaking on Planetary Health Diet and Children, Dr Makoyawo Olayinka warned that unhealthy diets are already affecting Nigerian children’s growth, learning and long-term health.
“A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains supports immunity, brain development and healthy growth,” she said.
She warned that the absence of such diets could lead to childhood obesity, learning disabilities, vitamin deficiencies, type-2 diabetes and increased cancer risk later in life.
Dr Olayinka added that school feeding programmes and family-level interventions are critical to reversing the trend.
Global evidence, local lessons
Introducing the EAT-Lancet Commission 2.0, Dr Percival Agordoh of the University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ghana, said the updated report responds to global food shocks, inequality and climate pressures since 2019.
“The world needs a Great Food Transformation — one that is healthy, sustainable and just,” he said.
The new report expands the Planetary Health Diet into four adaptable patterns — flexitarian, pescatarian, vegetarian and vegan — while placing stronger emphasis on equity, food access and governance.
It recommends cutting unhealthy food consumption by more than 50%, doubling intake of healthy foods, halving food waste and reforming agricultural subsidies.
What Nigeria can learn from Mexico
Drawing from Mexican dietary reforms, Andrea Arango of Mexico’s National Institute of Public Health said healthier, sustainable diets are not only better for health but also cheaper.
“Healthy diets in Mexico cost less than current eating patterns and reduce environmental damage significantly,” she explained.
According to her findings, plant-based diets reduced land use by up to 53%, carbon footprints by 63%, and biodiversity loss by 98%.
She called for fiscal policies, food subsidies and restrictions on junk-food advertising to support healthier choices.
Mainstreaming PHD into Lagos public health
Environmental health scientist Dr Chioma Joy Okonkwo said Lagos already has systems that can support planetary health diets, if sustainability is fully integrated.
“Mainstreaming means embedding planetary health into everyday public health planning, budgeting and service delivery,” she said.
She identified school feeding programmes, maternal health services and primary healthcare centres as key entry points.
Dr Okonkwo urged journalists to track policy implementation and connect food policies to real-life experiences.
School meals as a game changer
From Milan, Ottavia Pieretto of the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact (MUFPP) highlighted the global impact of sustainable school feeding programmes.
She said 466 million children worldwide now receive school meals, with every dollar invested generating up to $35 in economic benefits.
Cities like Milan, Addis Ababa, Nairobi and São Paulo, she noted, have used school meals to improve nutrition, boost attendance and support local farmers, lessons Nigeria could adapt.
The media’s responsibility
In a session on impactful reporting, participants were urged to avoid bias, adapt global evidence to local food cultures and address criticisms transparently.
Journalists were encouraged to use success stories, data-driven storytelling and investigative reporting to push accountability.
“Food is political. How we report it determines who benefits and who suffers,”Veteran Journalist, Tope Oluwaleye noted.
What’s next
Organisers said the insights from the training would feed into advocacy, policy engagement and media reporting across Nigeria.
A new global report, Lancet 2.0, will be shared with participants, alongside continued expert engagements aimed at bridging knowledge gaps and influencing policy action.
The Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation (AAAF), the philanthropic arm of SIFAX Group, has launched a free health insurance programme targeting rural communities in Ijebu.
In the first phase of the initiative, 60 residents from ten villages – including Isade, Ajowa, Idomila, Iken, Igbogila, Rasonwa, Ilefon, Ileshe, Sanyindo, and Idomowo – were enrolled. The launch took place at the 400-seater community hall funded by Dr Taiwo Afolabi, Chairman of SIFAX Group.
Why it Matters
Many rural residents in Ijebu previously underutilised nearby health facilities due to financial barriers. Mrs Foluke Ademokun, AAAF’s Executive Coordinator, explained that the programme aims to remove this obstacle.
“Dr Afolabi observed that a health facility he donated in Isade was being underused because many residents could not afford medical bills,” Ademokun said. “This scheme allows elderly and vulnerable residents to access healthcare services without financial burden.”
The initiative aligns with ongoing efforts by AAAF and SIFAX Group to support rural development through healthcare, education, and community infrastructure.
Community and Government Reactions
Hon Foluso Badejo, Chairman of Ogun North East Local Government, welcomed the initiative. He highlighted Dr Afolabi’s past contributions, which include donations of markets, schools, football fields, ICT centres, and medical facilities.
Chief M S Odunuga, the village head of Isade, praised the health insurance programme as “timely and impactful,” noting the benefits it brings to residents’ health and well-being.
Otunba Major General Odunsin (Rtd), who oversees AAAF’s community development projects locally, emphasized the transparent selection process and efficient issuance of health cards by the Ogun State Health Insurance Agency (OGSHIA).
“This collaboration ensures the initiative is managed with care and integrity,” he said.
Impact on Residents and Healthcare Access
The programme is expected to reduce out-of-pocket healthcare expenses and improve utilisation of rural health facilities. Plans for further phases are already underway, potentially extending coverage to more communities.
About AAAF:
The Ajoke Ayisat Afolabi Foundation is the philanthropic arm of SIFAX Group, focused on improving lives through healthcare, education, community development, and social welfare interventions, especially in under-served Nigerian communities.
People with albinism (PWA) in Nigeria are facing an increasing risk of skin cancer, the Albinism Association of Nigeria (AAN), Bayelsa State Chapter, has said, calling for urgent action to close gaps in care.
The appeal comes as the global cancer community marks World Cancer Day on 4 February, themed “United by Unique”, which focuses on inclusive and patient-centred cancer care.
According to the association, people with albinism are especially vulnerable because they lack melanin, the pigment that protects the skin from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
This, it says, exposes them to early-onset and often aggressive forms of skin cancer.
Why it matters
Skin cancer remains one of the leading causes of preventable deaths among people with albinism in Africa, experts say, largely due to prolonged sun exposure and late
In Nigeria, advocacy groups argue that weak healthcare access, rising temperatures linked to climate change, and poverty have worsened the risks for PWA, particularly in rural communities.
Barriers to care
In a statement issued to mark World Cancer Day, the AAN listed several challenges confronting people with albinism.
“The absence of melanin makes PWA highly vulnerable to skin cancer, often resulting in earlier onset and a higher rate of severe cases,” the association said.
It added that basic protective items such as sunscreen, UV-protective clothing, hats and sunglasses are often unaffordable or unavailable.
Regular skin checks, which are critical for early detection, are also largely inaccessible.
“Regular skin examinations, vital for early detection and intervention, most times are unavailable, unaffordable, or inaccessible in many communities,” the statement said.
For those already diagnosed, access to treatment remains a major hurdle.
“Financial constraints and geographical limitations can hinder access to specialised treatment, including surgery and radiation therapy,” the group warned.
Calls to government and partners
In line with the World Cancer Day theme, the association called for a collaborative response involving government, civil society and the private sector.
“We call upon governments, NGOs, and the private sector to collaborate in providing affordable and accessible protective gear,” the statement said.
This includes free high-SPF sunscreen, wide-brimmed hats, UV-protective clothing and sunglasses designed specifically for people with albinism.
The group also urged authorities to introduce free, periodic skin examinations across urban and rural areas.
“We strongly urge the implementation of regular skin examinations by qualified healthcare professionals for all PWA,” it said.
Public awareness gap
Advocates say stigma and misinformation still surround albinism, contributing to neglect and late treatment.
The association is calling for nationwide awareness campaigns to educate communities about skin cancer risks, prevention, and the importance of early diagnosis.
What’s next
As Nigeria works to strengthen its cancer response, advocacy groups say integrating the needs of people with albinism into national health policy is critical.
“By uniting around the unique needs of PWA, we can advance a more just and equitable healthcare landscape,” the association said.
The group says it hopes World Cancer Day will translate into concrete action beyond symbolism.
The Renewal Development Initiative (RDI) has called on Nigeria’s drug regulator, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), to remain firm in enforcing the ban on sachet and small-size alcoholic drinks despite mounting resistance from industry groups.
The ban, which affects alcoholic beverages packaged in sachets, PET bottles and glass bottles of 200 millilitres or less, came into force on 22 January 2026.
RDI said attempts by sections of the alcohol and beverage industry to reverse or delay enforcement amount to “blackmail tactics” aimed at protecting profits over public health.
Why the ban matters
NAFDAC says the policy is designed to reduce alcohol-related harm, particularly among children and young people who are more exposed to cheap, easily accessible alcohol.
The agency has repeatedly warned that early exposure to alcohol increases the risk of long-term health problems, including non-communicable diseases and mental health disorders.
Public health advocates argue that sachet alcohol has contributed to rising cases of alcohol misuse in low-income communities.
Background: Years of delay
The enforcement follows more than two years of negotiations between regulators and the alcohol industry.
In December 2018, industry groups including the Association of Food, Beverage and Tobacco Employers and the Distillers and Blenders Association of Nigeria, signed an agreement with the Federal Ministry of Health and NAFDAC.
Under the deal, alcohol in sachets and small PET bottles was to be phased out by 31 January 2024.
When the deadline expired, regulators granted an extension to allow manufacturers additional time to prepare.
NAFDAC says the latest enforcement marks the end of those concessions.
Industry reactions and job loss concerns
Labour and business groups have criticised the ban, warning of economic disruption.
The Food, Beverage and Tobacco Senior Staff Association (FOBTOB) said the policy has affected operations across different parts of the country.
The Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) have also raised concerns, arguing that the ban could lead to job losses.
NAFDAC has rejected those claims, insisting that public health considerations outweigh economic arguments.
Civil society backs NAFDAC
RDI praised the regulator for what it described as a long-overdue intervention.
RDI Executive Director Philip Jakpor said:
“We must commend NAFDAC for this bold life-saving action. The enforcement of the ban on sachet alcohol is long overdue and it is a step in the right direction. NAFDAC must remain undeterred by the usual rhetoric of the beverage and alcohol industry whose line of argument is usually about imaginary job losses because of their prioritization of profits over health.”
He added:
“We have said it time and again that alcohol harm is a major but under-addressed driver of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and mental health conditions. Not only adults; Children are victims of this menace and science has proven it.”
Global evidence and expert perspective
Mr Jakpor dismissed industry objections as part of a broader global pattern.
He cited the Movendi International 2025 Big Alcohol Exposed Report, which documented 1,300 cases and reviewed 77 independent studies on alcohol industry interference in public policy worldwide.
According to him:
“The sustained effort by alcohol lobby in Nigeria to kill and bury the enforcement of the sachet alcohol ban through a potential job loss claim is a clear testament that reinforces a statement in the Big Alcohol Exposed Report that the alcohol industry operates through concrete policy arenas, institutional arrangements, and political moments, adapting to local contexts while following a deliberate and recognisable global strategy.”
Public health experts say similar policies in other countries have led to reduced underage drinking and alcohol-related harm over time.
What’s next
RDI urged NAFDAC not to retreat in the face of industry pressure, describing the policy as a potential model for other African countries.
Mr Jakpor said:
“We use this medium to commend NAFDAC and its director-general, Professor Mojisola Christianah Adeyeye for placing the wellness of Nigerian citizens far and above profit motives. Nigerians fully support this action. The false narrative and twisted rhetoric of the alcohol industry to continue business as usual will fail this time.”
NAFDAC has maintained that enforcement will continue nationwide.
Impact on Nigerians
For consumers, the policy could reduce access to cheap alcohol often sold near schools and motor parks.
For manufacturers and distributors, it may force a shift toward alternative packaging and products.
For regulators, it represents one of Nigeria’s most significant alcohol control measures in recent years.
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