She is a 46-year-old trader from Kaduna. She didn’t pay attention to her health until a general screening for residents was organized by the Nigeria Governors Forum in partnership with the World Health Organization.
She was okay before the screening, but the result was a rude shock to her—hypertension and diabetes. The lady, who wouldn’t want her name in print, was among the many people found to have health challenges during the exercise, which was conducted from 28 October to 3 November 2024 in most states in the North.
A Professor of Medicine at the University of Ilorin, Ayodele Babatunde Omotoso, cried out recently while delivering the university’s 272nd Inaugural Lecture, that non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and chronic lung diseases, have been contributing to a considerable load of morbidity and mortality.
As if that was not enough, when another professor in a different foray made a speech in commemoration of this year’s World Hypertension Day (WHD), on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, he wore a face of concern about the occurrence of hypertension and, by extension, diabetes in Nigeria.
His long face pointed to Nigerians—not just for being lackadaisical about these NCDs, but also for not thriving in awareness. And this is low.
The Nigerian Hypertension Society (NHS) President, Simeon Isezuo, wasn’t happy that only a minute proportion of 10 percent of those with hypertension could boast of keeping up with treatment. He also reprimanded that just 2.5 percent of Nigerians with hypertension can manage to control their blood burden from the large proportion.
“Awareness on hypertension in Nigeria is very low, leading millions of people to health challenges such as stroke, kidney disease, and heart failure,” he said.
While WHD is observed annually on 17 May, and the WHO sermonizes that adults aged 30–79 globally—two-thirds of whom live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)—are among the 1.28 billion affected by hypertension, Isezuo called up the people’s spirit to note that the ratio of hypertension has risen from 594 million in 1975 to 1.13 billion in 2015, given the upsurging risk factors in LMICs, of which Nigeria is among. There is apprehension!
According to Peace Oregbesan, a public health analyst, “Nearly 30% of all deaths in Nigeria are due to NCDs. These diseases have caught the attention of the global health community because they are responsible for about 41 million deaths a year, equivalent to 71% of all deaths globally.
“Of the fatalities caused by NCDs, 17.9 million are attributable to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), 9.3 million to cancer, 4.1 million to respiratory diseases, 1.5 million to diabetes, and the remaining 8.2 million to other NCDs.”
Dr. Usman Muhammad Ibrahim, who is with Rasheed Shekoni Federal Teaching Hospital, Dutse, lamented over what he described as “a growing number of hospital deaths and complications from long-standing illnesses, with hypertension and diabetes consistently identified as leading risk factors.”
Notably, there was uneasiness from medical practitioners such as Isezuo, haranguing about how unaware citizens are of their health statuses. There were indications that these NCDs can’t be cured with any scientifically proven medications but can be managed if detected early.
A Family Physician who also doubles as the Secretary-General of the Nigerian Medical Association, Dr. Jide Onyekwelu, was among the professionals whose clarion call emphasized that no person can detect his or her health conditions except by seeing a doctor, regardless of the cost involved.
While some citizens might think there is a particular age meant for falling ill, he said there is a need for people above 30 to visit the hospital regularly for medical checks, especially those with a family history of hypertension and diabetes.
According to him, such checks can cost less than a dollar equivalent and should be done every six months. If the indication on the medical gauge shows that the person has 140/90, then there is need for proper consultation with a doctor, who will give expert instruction on what to do.
It was gathered that in spite of the growing number of sufferers of these diseases, over 90% of DM in Nigeria is Type 2. Authorities might not have taken drastic action to reduce the numbers, notwithstanding the many policies in place, such as Nigeria’s National Multi-Sectoral Action Plan (NMSAP) for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) (2019–2025), and the Health Sector Strategic Blueprint (2024–2027).
Investigations found that, as of 2020, such policies benefited the hypertension and diabetes drug markets. They consolidated resources from “local and multinational pharmaceutical companies to herbal providers.” Some drug merchants turned to manufacturing their own drugs when the government could not provide for drug shortages.
However, specialists found that prior to post-colonial times, Nigerians never had the rate of these NCDs as they do today, given their adoption of Western foods in what is dubbed “dietary transition.” Unlike in the past, when people lived in rural areas and were mostly farmers who knew nothing about mechanized agriculture, they produced quality crops directly from arable lands.
They believed that such a “Western-type diet” is characterized by prepackaged foods, refined grains, red meat, and high-fat dairy products that increase the risk of overweight, obesity, and reduced insulin sensitivity. In the words of Isezuo, “Hypertension, normally branded as high blood pressure, is diagnosed once a person constantly records systolic readings of 140 mm Hg or higher, or diastolic readings of 90 mm Hg or higher.”
Indications are that the Nigerian authorities—with their promise to curb Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) by 2030—may not suffice due to what pundits saw as “bureaucratic hurdles, inadequate engagement with affected communities, and a care funding gap in excess of N8.6 trillion.”
But Omotoso had this to say: “Government should fund, equip and support at least one tertiary health facility that can take care of complicated NCDs, encourage private companies to invest in health promotion activities and create workplace wellness programs that address NCDs risk factors.
“Government should partner with Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to implement community-based interventions and support groups for individuals affected by NCDs. They should also collaborate with international organizations to share knowledge, resources and best practices for NCDs prevention and control.”
Onwumere is Chairman, Advocacy Network On Religious And Cultural Co-existence, ANORACC. He writes from Rivers State.
