As the world observes World Diabetes Day, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has joined the Diabetes Association of Nigeria (DAN) in urging the federal government to declare a national emergency on diabetes care and revise the sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) tax to fund health sector improvements.
In a statement, CAPPA described as “alarming” a recent report by DAN that estimates 30,000 Nigerians die annually from diabetes, while 11.4 million others are currently living with the disease. The figures exceed the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) estimate of roughly 2.99 million adults, representing a 3.0 percent prevalence in Nigeria.
Highlighting the financial burden, CAPPA noted that the average monthly cost of diabetes management now ranges between N100,000 and N120,000, making proper care unaffordable for most Nigerians and putting many at risk of severe complications or death.
“This is yet another troubling indicator of Nigeria’s noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) burden and the strain on our public health system,” CAPPA said, citing the latest UN global health report that ranks Nigeria’s life expectancy among the lowest in the world.
The organisation stressed that the rise in diabetes, coupled with poor life expectancy, underscores the need for urgent policy interventions targeting unhealthy diets, especially high sugar consumption from SSBs.
Akinbode Oluwafemi, CAPPA Executive Director, said, “We fully support DAN’s call for a state of emergency on diabetes care and a significant increase in the sugar-sweetened beverages tax, with all proceeds directed to strengthening the health sector.”
He explained that aggressive marketing and widespread availability of sugary drinks and highly processed foods are fueling Nigeria’s NCDs epidemic. Without decisive action, generations risk lifelong dependence on sugar-rich beverages, increasing obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and early mortality.
CAPPA highlighted policy measures with proven effectiveness, including SSB taxation, sodium reduction targets, front-of-pack nutrition labeling (FOPL), and restrictions on marketing ultra-processed foods to children. The organisation also emphasised the need for a health system capable of supporting millions already living with diabetes and other NCDs.
“The federal government’s ongoing effort to channel revenues from taxes on tobacco, alcohol, and other harmful products into health financing is significant,” Oluwafemi added. “Dedicating these revenues to NCD prevention and care would provide predictable funding and help families avoid being pushed deeper into poverty due to high treatment costs.”
CAPPA’s campaigns advocate for an SSB tax of at least N130 per litre and mandatory front-of-pack nutrition labeling. Evidence shows that such measures reduce consumption, encourage product reformulation, and generate revenue for health investment while empowering consumers to make healthier choices.
This year, the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) World Diabetes Day theme is “Diabetes across life stages,” highlighting that diabetes can affect people at any stage of life, including during pregnancy.
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