The gathering emphasized a troubling reality: NCDs such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes, and chronic respiratory conditions now account for a significant portion of deaths nationwide. Unlike infectious diseases, which often draw more immediate attention, NCDs tend to develop gradually, fueled by preventable lifestyle and environmental factors.
Lifestyle and Environmental Risks Fueling the Crisis
Participants underscored that Nigeria’s growing NCD burden is closely tied to modifiable behavioral patterns—unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, tobacco use, excessive alcohol consumption, and chronic stress top the list. These habits, often linked to urbanization and shifting food systems, are driving an uptick in obesity and related complications.
But the problem doesn’t end with personal behavior. Environmental contributors such as air pollution, lack of access to green spaces, poor sanitation, exposure to harmful chemicals, and the consequences of climate change also emerged as critical drivers of disease. Unsafe working conditions and inadequate water and hygiene infrastructure further compound the situation.
Weak Health Infrastructure Compounds the Problem
Beyond individual and environmental factors, structural weaknesses within Nigeria’s healthcare system remain a formidable barrier. Issues such as poor policy implementation, insufficient funding, and a critically low doctor-to-patient ratio hamper effective prevention, diagnosis, and management of NCDs. Participants at the workshop called attention to the overstretched healthcare workforce and the need for a more resilient system that can handle both chronic and acute health challenges.
From left: Lukman Ishau,Vice Chairman Brand Journalist association of Nigeria(BJAN);Dr Ajibola Arwa,Associate professor of Finance at the department of finance LASU;Dr Kanalio Yvonne Olalokun, Nutrition Institute and Wyeth Nutrition Science Centre Manager Central & West Africa,NESTLE;Mr Daniel Obi,President BJAN and Adedayo Odulaja, Secretary BJAN during One Day Capacity Building workshop on Rethinking the NCD Crisis:A Holistic Approach to the Debate in Nigeria organized by Brand Journalist association of Nigeria held in Lagos on Friday 1/08/2025.
Recommendations for a Healthier Future
To reverse the trend, stakeholders proposed a number of urgent interventions. Chief among them is the need for robust public education campaigns aimed at promoting healthy eating and physical activity. Building awareness around the dangers of tobacco, alcohol misuse, and sedentary lifestyles is key to prevention.
Experts also advocated for stronger primary healthcare services with a focus on preventive care. This includes the promotion of regular health screenings and lifestyle interventions at the community level.
Further recommendations included:
- Encouraging food companies to reformulate products to lower sugar and harmful ingredients.
- Offering policy incentives that support healthier food production and consumption.
- Supporting small businesses and job creation to reduce economic stress, which is also linked to poor health outcomes.
A Call to the Media: Inform, Educate, Influence
The role of the media in addressing NCDs cannot be overstated. Journalists were urged to amplify health-related stories with accuracy and depth, helping the public understand not just the statistics but also the human faces behind the crisis. Media professionals can play a transformative role by advocating for science-based policies, debunking health myths, and highlighting both government efforts and community-driven solutions.
As Nigeria grapples with the double burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases, the call for a multisectoral response grows louder. Only through collaboration—across government, civil society, private sector, and media—can the country begin to shift the tide and ensure a healthier future for all.