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The federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering Nigerians to make healthier food choices through clear and visible nutritional information, as part of efforts to tackle the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

To advance this goal, it inaugurated the National Technical Working Group on Front-of-Pack Labelling (NTWG-FOPL) on Wednesday in Abuja.

The group is tasked with developing a national framework to guide food policy, enhance consumer awareness, and help reduce the prevalence of diet-related illnesses linked to excessive consumption of sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats.

The technical working group includes experts from government agencies, civil society, academia, and development partners. Its duties include validating a national nutrient profiling model, reviewing international best practices, conducting consumer behaviour research, and developing a roadmap for nationwide implementation.

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The group is also tasked with designing a public education campaign to ensure the system is understood across all demographics, from cities to rural communities.

While inaugurating the working group, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom, described the initiative as a critical milestone in implementing the National Policy on Food Safety and Quality and its 2023 Implementation Plan.

She noted that NCDs, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory conditions now account for nearly 30 percent of all deaths in Nigeria, with the probability of premature death from these illnesses standing at 22 percent among people aged 30 to 69.

“Behind each of these numbers is a real family struggling with hospital bills and preventable suffering. We owe them better,” she said.

Represented by her Senior Technical Adviser, Dogara Okara, the Permanent Secretary explained that Front-of-Pack Labelling is a globally endorsed strategy by the World Health Organization (WHO) to provide simple warning messages, such as colour-coded symbols on the front of packaged foods to alert consumers about high levels of sugar, salt, and fats.

“Nigerians deserve to know, at a glance what they’re feeding their families. This tool will especially benefit those living with chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension,” she noted

Kachollom said the initiative builds on Nigeria’s broader public health efforts, including the sodium reduction guidelines launched in March and the 2022 NAFDAC regulation aimed at eliminating industrially produced trans fats.

“The success of this programme depends on our ability to create a labelling system that is locally relevant, culturally appropriate, and universally understood,” Kachollom said.

Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the WHO, the Technical Officer for Nutrition at the organization, Dr. Pindar Wakawa, commended Nigeria’s leadership in launching the FOPL initiative, calling it an important step in the country’s fight against diet-related diseases.

He said the programme aligns with the global 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which aims to reduce premature deaths from NCDs by one-third.

He warned, however, that this cannot be achieved without strong regulatory measures to counter unhealthy food environments.

Citing WHO’s 2018 Nigeria country profile, Wakawa said cardiovascular disease accounts for 11% of total deaths, cancers 4%, chronic respiratory diseases 2%, and diabetes 1%.

He noted that poor nutrition remains a key driver largely due to the excessive intake of sugars, salt, and unhealthy fats often consumed unknowingly due to unclear packaging.

“Front-of-Pack Labelling is a cost-effective and practical tool that helps consumers make better dietary decisions. It gives people power over what they eat, especially in a market saturated with ultra-processed foods,” he said.

Wakawa also commended Nigeria’s recent policy strides, the sodium reduction guidelines, the sugary drinks tax, and trans-fat regulations but emphasized that tying these efforts together with a robust FOPL system would amplify their impact.

John Atanda, Director and National Coordinator for Safety and Quality Programmes at the ministry, said the rise in hypertension now affecting an estimated 44 percent of Nigerian adults, was among the triggers for the government’s push for food labelling reform.

“This initiative is about saving lives. We need a labelling system that even rural communities can understand, possibly in local languages,” he said.

He explained that the system would use easily recognizable colour codes like red for high sodium or sugar to quickly alert consumers of potential health risks, adding, “It’s especially critical for those with pre-existing health conditions”.

Development partners and civil society organizations, including the Network for Health Equity and Development (NHED) and Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), among others, public health advocates praised the initiative as a long-overdue step towards food justice.

Abayomi Sarumi, Associate Director for the Food Justice Program at CAPPA, said, “It is not enough for people to have access to food, it must be safe, nutritious, and transparently labelled.

“For too long, producers have known what’s in their products while consumers are left in the dark.”

Sarumi noted that the FOPL programme complements other policies such as the sugar tax and mandatory trans-fat regulation, stressing, “We’re not just putting stickers on food; we’re building a system of accountability that allows Nigerians to make informed decisions and live healthier lives.”