Nigeria records over 684,000 deaths each year from Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), according to Adewunmi Emoruwa, Lead Strategist of Gatefield. Speaking at the “Beyond65: Preventing the Quiet Epidemic” health summit in Abuja, Emoruwa emphasized that this staggering figure is equivalent to the entire population of Luxembourg being wiped out annually and highlighted the urgent need for intervention to address this preventable crisis.
The summit saw the launch of a new health strategy aimed at combating the rising tide of NCDs in Nigeria, where the average life expectancy is just 52 years. Emoruwa reported that NCD-related deaths in Nigeria have increased from 24% in 2010 to 29% today, driven by unhealthy diets, excessive salt consumption, alcohol and tobacco use, and environmental pollution.
Key statistics revealed that Nigerians consume 4.9 servings of sugary drinks weekly—nearly double the global average—while salt intake averages 5.8 grams per day, surpassing World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. With 27.3% of Nigerians engaging in heavy episodic drinking and around 48 million not physically active enough, the risks of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease are on the rise.
Emoruwa stressed that early detection of NCDs like cancer and heart disease is crucial and urged the government to invest in public health messaging without waiting for international bodies. Gatefield’s Board Co-Chair, Sa’adatu Hamu-Aliyu, pointed out the stark contrast in life expectancy between Nigeria (52 years) and developed countries like Europe, Japan, and Canada (over 80 years).
The health strategy proposed by Gatefield outlines five key interventions, including improving the national diet, reducing tobacco use, and promoting mental health. It aims to push for policies that encourage routine screenings and public health education while strengthening regulations on ultra-processed foods and harmful substances.
Babatunde Irukera, former Executive Vice-Chairman/CEO of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, emphasized the need for a robust policy structure combining physical infrastructure and well-trained human capital to ensure accountability in addressing Nigeria's health crisis.
