By Desire Uzochukwu
Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has urged the Federal Government to put nutrition, affordability and public health at the centre of Nigeria’s food security policies, warning that increased food production alone will not end hunger and malnutrition.
The organisation, in a statement to mark World Food Day 2026, also called for stronger regulation of unhealthy food products, an effective sugar-sweetened beverage tax and restrictions on the marketing of foods high in sugar, salt and unhealthy fats, particularly to children.
World Food Day 2026 is themed, “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow.”
CAPPA noted that Nigeria’s food production index had risen steadily over the years, with the country emerging as the world’s leading cassava producer and a major producer of yam and sorghum.
However, it said post-harvest losses, insecurity in farming communities and weaknesses in logistics and supply chains continued to undermine food security, leaving millions of Nigerians facing acute food insecurity and undernutrition.
The organisation urged the government to look beyond the volume of food produced or displayed in markets and assess whether citizens could afford safe, nutritious food produced in ways that protect their health.
“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,” CAPPA said.
Citing National Bureau of Statistics data on the rising cost of healthy diets, the group blamed what it described as aggressive and deceptive marketing by the ultra-processed food industry for distorting consumers’ choices and access to nutritious meals.
It warned that increasing food availability without improving nutritional quality could undermine public-health efforts, noting that excessive consumption of sugar, sodium and unhealthy fats is associated with health risks, including obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
According to CAPPA, tackling hunger and malnutrition requires action across the wider food environment, including improving the affordability of fresh and minimally processed foods, regulating the marketing of unhealthy products and strengthening consumer protection.
CAPPA seeks sugar tax, warning labels
The organisation called on the Federal Government and relevant regulatory agencies to strengthen measures aimed at making food products safer and healthier.
Its recommendations include an effective sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) 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.
CAPPA specifically urged the House of Representatives to follow the Senate’s lead by passing the Customs, Excise Tariffs, etc. (Consolidation) Act (CETA) Amendment Bill, also known as the SSB Tax Bill.
It said the proposed legislation could discourage excessive consumption of sugary drinks while generating domestic resources to strengthen Nigeria’s health system.
The group also called on the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and other relevant authorities to strengthen food labelling and product regulation.
It advocated the adoption of Front-of-Pack-Warning Labels (FOPWL), arguing that consumers should be able to identify products high in nutrients of concern and make informed purchasing decisions.
CAPPA stressed that children needed particular protection from the promotion of unhealthy foods and beverages, including through digital advertising, influencer marketing and promotions around schools.
Industry profits must not override public health
The organisation acknowledged the Federal Government’s ongoing review of the National Policy on Food and Nutrition (2016–2025) and plans to accelerate 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 commercial interests could conflict with public-health priorities.
CAPPA called for transparent policymaking, safeguards against conflicts of interest and meaningful public participation in decisions affecting the country’s food supply.
It also urged the government to make nutritious food more affordable through investments in local food systems, support for smallholder farmers and agroecological production, as well as improved storage, processing and distribution facilities.
According to the organisation, these investments could reduce post-harvest losses, strengthen local livelihoods and improve access to diverse foods, including fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains.
CAPPA said World Food Day should serve as an opportunity to assess whether existing food policies were improving the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
It added that innovation must extend beyond increasing production to strengthening public institutions, enforcing effective regulations and promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
The organisation maintained that Nigeria’s food system must prioritise nutrition, equity and accountability if the country is to achieve meaningful progress in tackling hunger and malnutrition.
