With about 11.2 million Nigerians wey get diabetes, food scientists and industry stakeholders don call for science-based measures to reduce sugar consumption without spoiling food safety, quality or consumer choice.

Di stakeholders, under Nigerian Institute of Food Science and Technology, NIFST, and International Sweeteners Association, ISA, also urge Federal Government to strengthen local research, harmonise food additive regulations with global standards and improve public understanding of low- and no-calorie sweeteners.

President of NIFST, Dr Bola Osinowo, wey speak at two-day stakeholders' conference on "Low- and No-Calorie Sweeteners for Nigeria: Di Science and Safety," say Nigeria dey face serious rise for diet-related non-communicable diseases, especially type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Osinowo say clinical data show say between six million and 11.2 million Nigerian adults dey live with diabetes, and e describe di disease as big economic burden on households and health system.

According to am, di average Nigerian wey get diabetes fit spend between N20,000 and more than N150,000 evri month for insulin, blood glucose monitoring and clinical care.
E say di challenge dey worse because of shortage of specialists, with less than 200 physician endocrinologists wey dey practice for di country.

Osinowo talk say: "We no fit discuss di future of food formulation for Nigeria without addressing our current national public health and economic realities.

"Nigeria currently dey witness serious rise for diet-related non-communicable diseases, most importantly type 2 diabetes and obesity."

E explain say as manufacturers dey turn more to low- and no-calorie sweeteners, LNCS, to reduce sugar for foods and drinks, Nigeria need regulatory and scientific framework wey fit support dis change.