CAPPA urges FG to prioritise affordable, nutritious food, tighten regulations

By James Ike

Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has urged the Federal Government to prioritise food affordability, nutrition and stronger regulations to protect Nigerians from unhealthy food environments as part of efforts to address food insecurity in the country.

The organisation also called on the House of Representatives to emulate the Senate by passing the Customs, Excise Tariffs, etc. (Consolidation) Act (CETA) Amendment Bill, otherwise known as the Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) Tax Bill, to discourage excessive consumption of sugary drinks and generate additional resources for the nation's health system.

CAPPA made the calls in a statement issued by its Media and Communications Officer, Robert Egbe, to mark World Food Day 2026, themed, “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow.”

The organisation noted that although Nigeria's food production index had increased steadily over the years, with the country emerging as the world's leading producer of cassava and a major producer of yam and sorghum, millions of Nigerians continued to face acute food insecurity and undernutrition.

It attributed the situation to massive post-harvest losses, insecurity in farming communities, and gaps in logistics and supply chains, which prevent food from reaching consumers efficiently and affordably.

While acknowledging the importance of increasing food production, CAPPA cautioned the government against measuring progress in food security primarily by the volume of food produced or available in markets.

It said food security should also be assessed by whether Nigerians could afford and access safe, nutritious food produced in ways that protected their health.

Referencing National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, data on the rising cost of healthy diets, the organisation expressed concern over the influence of aggressive and deceptive marketing by the ultra-processed food industry on Nigerians' food choices and access to nutritious meals.

“Food security must mean more than having something to eat. It must also mean having access to food that nourishes the body, protects health and supports human development. Nigerians should not have to choose between feeding their families and providing them with nutritious meals,” the organisation said.

CAPPA warned that expanding food availability without paying adequate attention to nutritional quality could undermine public health efforts, noting that excessive consumption of sugar, sodium and unhealthy fats was associated with obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes.

It stressed that hunger and malnutrition could not be addressed in isolation from the broader food environment, including the availability and marketing of ultra-processed products, the affordability of fresh and minimally processed foods, and the effectiveness of government regulations designed to protect consumers.

The organisation acknowledged the Federal Government's ongoing review of the National Policy on Food and Nutrition, 2016–2025, and plans to accelerate the passage of a National Food and Nutrition Bill to protect nutrition financing.

However, it cautioned against relying on the ultra-processed food industry to resolve Nigeria's nutrition challenges, arguing that the industry's primary responsibility was to maximise profits rather than protect public health.

CAPPA therefore urged the Federal Government and relevant regulatory agencies to strengthen measures aimed at making food products safer and healthier. These include an effective sugar-sweetened beverage tax, clear front-of-pack labels, sodium-reduction targets, restrictions on marketing unhealthy foods to children, and sustained efforts to eliminate industrially produced trans fats.

It specifically called on the House of Representatives to pass the SSB Tax Bill, following the Senate's action, arguing that the measure would discourage excessive consumption of sugary beverages while mobilising domestic resources to strengthen the nation's health system.

The organisation also urged the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, and other relevant authorities to strengthen food labelling and product regulation, stressing that consumers should have the information required to make informed decisions about what they eat and drink.

It said the introduction of Front-of-Pack-Warning Labels, FOPWL, would help consumers identify products containing excessive amounts of nutrients of concern and make healthier choices.

CAPPA further called for stronger protection of children against the promotion of unhealthy foods and beverages, particularly products high in sugar, salt and unhealthy fats, through digital advertising, influencer marketing and promotional activities around schools.

On improving access to nutritious food, the organisation urged the government to invest in local food systems and support smallholder farmers, agroecological production, storage facilities, processing and distribution networks.

According to CAPPA, such investments would reduce post-harvest losses, strengthen local livelihoods and improve access to diverse and nutritious foods, including fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains.

It also called for greater transparency in food policy formulation, appropriate safeguards against conflicts of interest and meaningful public participation in decisions affecting the nation's food supply.

The organisation maintained that World Food Day should provide an opportunity to assess whether existing food policies were translating into tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

It added that innovation in the country's food system must go beyond increased production to encompass stronger public institutions, effective regulation, sustainable agricultural practices and policies that place nutrition, equity and accountability at the centre of food security.