As the world commemorates World Diabetes Day today, 14 November, the President of the National Diabetes Association of Nigeria (NDAN), Prof. Ejiofor Ugwu, has raised fresh concern over the increasing burden of diabetes in the country, urging the Federal Government to adopt stronger public health measures, especially in the regulation of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and nationwide screening.
Speaking during a virtual interview on Channels Television, Prof. Ugwu disclosed that current estimates show that 5 percent of Nigerians are living with diabetes, representing approximately 11.4 million people. He noted that this figure is based on only half of the country’s population, as Nigeria still lacks a national diabetes registry, a challenge that continues to undermine accurate diagnosis, planning, and policy formulation.
According to him, regional data reveal troubling trends: “The South-South currently records the highest number of people living with diabetes, while the North-Central shows the least, largely because a significant portion of the population has never been screened,” he said.
The World Health Organisation (WHO), has also highlighted the alarming rate at which diabetes is rising across Africa. The global health organisation warned that millions of people across the continent remain undiagnosed, leading to late detection and complications such as kidney failure, blindness, stroke, and limb amputations.
Prof. Ugwu emphasised that NDAN is still working to establish a nationwide diabetes survey and a functional registry for capturing real-time data. He described this as one of the association’s biggest challenges and an urgent need for Nigeria’s health system.
He also lamented the Federal Government’s recent withdrawal of the Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) tax initiative, which had aimed to curb excessive consumption of sugary drinks, a key risk factor for type 2 diabetes.
“The initial SSB tax, starting at ₦10 per litre, was a fraction of what was needed.” An effect withdrawn on grounds that the tax could contribute to unemployment within the beverage sector, a decision he believes undermines public health. “We are appealing to the government to reinstate the tax and even increase it to ₦200 per litre to meaningfully reduce consumption of sugary drinks,” Prof. Ugwu stated.
WHO also stressed the need for early screening, healthy diets, reduced intake of sugary beverages, stronger public health policies, and universal access to essential medicines, emphasising that governments must ensure that people at every life stage, from children to older adults have access to prevention, diagnosis, and lifelong care.
Speaking on access to care, Prof. Ugwu said that National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) coverage for diabetes remains inadequate, especially in rural communities. He warned that the rising cost of diabetes medication, including insulin, is worsening the health outcomes of many Nigerians who cannot afford consistent treatment.
On this World Diabetes Day, Ugwu insist that the country must urgently strengthen national data collection systems, improve NHIS coverage for chronic diseases, reinstate and expand the SSB tax, invest in public awareness and community-level screening, address drug affordability and supply chain challenges
