Health experts have urged Nigerians to significantly reduce their salt intake, warning that excessive sodium consumption is fuelling the rise in hypertension, kidney failure, and heart disease.
The appeal was made in Abuja during a public sensitisation exercise held as part of a three-day national salt-reduction campaign.
Dr. Abah Ochigbo of the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital said cardiovascular diseases are increasing rapidly among Nigerians aged 20 to 40, linking the trend to westernised diets, fast foods, processed meals high in sodium, and the habit of adding raw table salt to cooked food.
Also speaking, the Head of Programmes at the Centre for Communication and Social Impact, Oluseyi Akintola, noted that many Nigerians unknowingly consume far more than the WHO’s recommended daily limit of five milligrams of salt.
The stakeholders urged Nigerians to check food labels, cook more at home, and use natural spices like ginger, garlic, turmeric, and cloves as safer alternatives.
Written by Dolapo Sonuga