Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, CAPPA, has called on the federal government to prioritise affordability, nutrition and stronger protections against unhealthy food environments in Nigeria’s food security agenda.
In a statement to mark World Food Day 2026, themed “Innovate today. Nourish tomorrow,” CAPPA noted that Nigeria’s food production index had climbed steadily over the years, with the country becoming the leading producer of cassava, and a top-tier yam and sorghum producer, among other food staples.
Ironically, it said, massive post-harvest losses, insecurity in farming regions, logistics and supply chain gaps, caused widespread hunger with millions of Nigerians facing acute food insecurity and undernutrition.
While calling for sustained efforts to promote food availability, CAPPA urged the government not to measure food security progress primarily by the volume of food produced or available in the marketplace, but to reflect on whether Nigerians were able to access food that was safe, nutritious, affordable and produced in ways that protected their health.
Referencing Nigeria Bureau of Statistics, NBS, data on the rising cost of healthy diets, the group blamed aggressive and deceptive marketing by the ultra-processed food industry for distorting Nigerians’ choice of, and access to nutritious diets.
“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 a food system that expands availability, without adequately addressing nutritional quality risked undermining public-health efforts.
It noted that excessive consumption of sugar, sodium and unhealthy fats was associated with diet-related health risks, including obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes.
The group stressed that hunger and malnutrition could not be addressed in isolation from the wider food environment, including the availability and marketing of ultra-processed products high in sugar, salt and unhealthy fats, the affordability of fresh and minimally processed foods, and the strength of government regulations designed to protect consumers.
It identified the federal government’s ongoing review of the National Policy on Food and Nutrition (2016–2025) and its plans to accelerate a National Food and Nutrition Bill to protect nutrition financing.
However, it warned against relying on the ultra-processed food industry to address the country’s nutrition challenges, saying the industry’s loyalty was to profits rather than public health.
The group called on the federal government and relevant regulatory agencies to strengthen measures that make food products safer and healthier.
These include an effective sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) tax, clear front-of-pack labels, sodium-reduction targets, restrictions on the marketing of unhealthy foods to children, and sustained efforts to eliminate industrially produced trans fats.
CAPPA specifically called on the House of Representatives to emulate the Senate and pass the Customs, Excise Tariffs, etc. (Consolidation) Act (CETA) Amendment Bill, otherwise known as the SSB Tax Bill, in order to discourage excessive consumption of sugary beverages and mobilise domestic resources to strengthen the nation’s health system.
It 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, saying the power to make informed choices must be returned to the consumer and a Front-of-Pack-Warning Label, FOPWL, did that.
It argued that children, in particular, required stronger protection from the promotion of foods and beverages high in nutrients of concern, including through digital advertising, influencer marketing and promotions around schools.
CAPPA further urged the government to address the affordability of nutritious food by investing in local food systems and supporting smallholder farmers, agroecological production, storage facilities, processing and distribution networks.
Such investments, it said, could help reduce post-harvest losses, strengthen local livelihoods and improve access to diverse foods, including fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains.
The organisation noted that Nigeria’s food policies must also confront the influence of commercial interests on public-health decision-making.
It called for transparent policymaking, appropriate safeguards against conflicts of interest and meaningful public participation in decisions affecting the food supply.
CAPPA added that World Food Day should provide an opportunity to examine whether current food policies are delivering meaningful improvements in the lives of ordinary Nigerians.
Innovation, it said, must include stronger public institutions, effective regulation, sustainable agricultural practices and food systems that prioritise nutrition, equity and accountability.
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