CAPPA urges FG, States To Prioritise Healthy Food Policies To combat Cancer
Tracy Ohovwore, Benin City
In commemoration of the annual World Cancer Day 2025 celebrated on February 4, themed; “United by Unique”, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has charged both federal and state governments in Nigeria to develop and deploy comprehensive healthy food policies targeted at reducing the exposure of Nigerians to ultra-processed foods, tobacco, excessive sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and salt consumption, all of which poses a very high risk of causing cancer and other non-communicable diseases.
CAPPA also informed that the debilitating disease of cancer has remained a major public health issue in Nigeria, with an increasing number of new cases and deaths. According to the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, Nigeria records over 120,000 new cancer cases annually. At the same time, the National Cancer Prevention and Control Plan (2018-2022) estimates that Nigerians spend N12 billion annually on cancer treatment. These increasing figures, according to the not-for-profit, demand the urgent need for a multifaceted-policy approach and preventive measures to address the avoidable risk factors contributing to the country’s cancer as well as the NCD crisis.
The organisation urged the government to apply pro-public-health tailored actions and enforce healthy food policies such as the implementation of national guidelines to reduce salt consumption as well as an upward review of the SSB Tax rate from the current N10 to N130 to achieve a substantial increase in the final retail prices of sugary drinks that will decrease the excessive consumption which is in line with global best practices and generate revenue for health interventions.
Akinbode Oluwafemi, the Executive Director of CAPPA, emphasised that creating healthy food environments alongside solid and effective regulations will enable healthy dietary decisions, which will help tackle cancer-risk factors and NCDs.
He further stated that this includes fiscal policies that constrain high consumption of unhealthy diets, promote public adoption of healthier foods through targeted subsidies and strategic investments in agriculture for nutrient-rich crops, and discourage tobacco and novel tobacco product use.
Additionally, the statement highlighted the need for clear front-of-package labelling to inform consumers about the nutritional content of food products. It also observed that public awareness campaigns are crucial in educating people on the connection between diet and cancer and enabling healthier eating habits across the nation.
The Nigerian government’s incorporation of these strategies will produce a medal that aims to swiftly reduce cancer risk factors and increase healthy habits and wellness.
CAPPA appealed to the government to strictly regulate tobacco products, which are increasingly targeted and abused by young people and to also allocate more resources to the tobacco control fund to enhance enforcement efforts and public awareness campaigns.
