As the world marked World Obesity Day (WOD) 2025, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) renewed its push for stronger policies to promote healthier diets and curb Nigeria’s rising burden of obesity and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
The civil society organisation decried the alarming rate of obesity worldwide, reinforcing its call for stricter regulations on sugary drinks—a major contributor to overweight and obesity.
CAPPA specifically urged the government to implement the increase of the Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) tax from ₦10 to ₦130 per litre or at least 20% of the product’s retail price.
The World Obesity Federation (WOF) estimates that by 2035, 1.9 billion people—one in four globally—will be obese, costing the global economy $4.32 trillion, double the 2010 figure. Childhood obesity is projected to rise by 100% between 2020 and 2035, posing a major public health threat.
In Nigeria, the situation is equally dire. CAPPA’s Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, cited data from the National Library of Medicine, revealing that as of 2020, over 21 million Nigerians were overweight, and 12 million were obese. The country’s age-adjusted obesity prevalence stood at 12%, while 20% of adults aged 15 and above were overweight.
CAPPA warned that unhealthy, ultra-processed foods aggressively marketed by food corporations were worsening the obesity crisis, particularly among children and young people. Oluwafemi noted that these foods contribute to serious health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, sleep disorders, and liver disease.
He stressed that childhood obesity significantly increases the risk of lifelong health complications, early death, and disability, underscoring the urgent need for policy action to prevent a future health catastrophe.
Aligning with the WOD 2025 theme, “Changing Systems, Healthier Lives,” CAPPA emphasized the need for interventions across food systems, healthcare, media, workplaces, and communities. The organization called on the Nigerian government to take swift action to limit unhealthy food marketing, regulate food corporations, and use tax revenues from sugary drinks to strengthen the healthcare system.
“Taking action on obesity is a critical step in reducing the burden of other chronic non-communicable diseases,” Oluwafemi stated, urging the government to adopt pro-health taxation policies to safeguard public health and Nigeria’s economic productivity.