Nigeria: 11.2m Nigerians Battle Diabetes As Stakeholders Seek Safer Sugar Cuts

What the report says

Food scientists, regulators and industry stakeholders in Nigeria have urged a science-based approach to cutting sugar in foods and drinks as the country faces a growing diabetes burden. The discussion took place at a two-day conference on low- and no-calorie sweeteners in Lagos, where participants said the goal should be to reduce sugar without undermining food safety, product quality or consumer choice.

According to the Vanguard report distributed by AllAfrica, the Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology and the International Sweeteners Association pressed the Federal Government to strengthen local research, improve public education on sweeteners and align food additive rules more closely with international standards. NIFST president Bola Osinowo said Nigeria is seeing a sharp rise in diet-related non-communicable diseases, especially type 2 diabetes and obesity, and described diabetes as a major strain on households and the health system. The report also said the country lacks a coordinated national dietary database to track sweetener intake and exposure.

The stakeholders said manufacturers are increasingly using low- and no-calorie sweeteners as sugar-reduction tools, but reformulation remains technically difficult because products must still maintain taste, texture and shelf life under Nigeria’s hot and humid conditions. They noted that the existing sugar-sweetened beverage tax has encouraged reformulation, while also creating new production challenges.

The conference, held at Marriott Hotel in Ikeja GRA, Lagos, brought together officials from the health ministry, NAFDAC, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, researchers, manufacturers and consumer groups. The participants called for stronger links between industry and universities, as well as clearer risk-communication materials for health professionals and the public.