A Professor of Cardiology at the University of Abuja, Prof. Dike Orji, has raised alarm over the high prevalence of hypertension in Nigeria, revealing that 38.1% of Nigerian adults are affected by the condition. He described hypertension as one of the most pervasive yet poorly managed health challenges in the country.
Addressing lawmakers during a House of Representatives plenary on Tuesday, Prof. Orji, who spoke on behalf of the Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Alliance of Nigeria, stressed the urgent need to include hypertension treatment under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), citing the high cost of care and its impact on household finances.
He warned that nearly 40% of Nigerians over the age of 18 are at risk of developing hypertension, yet awareness, diagnosis, and effective management remain dangerously low.
The cardiologist also drew attention to the growing burden of diabetes, noting a 5.7% prevalence among adults, with rates particularly higher in urban areas due to poor dietary habits and lack of physical activity. Most cases, he added, are Type 2 diabetes.
Calling for strategic action, Prof. Orji urged the federal government to:
Create a dedicated budget line for NCDs,
Meet the 15% Abuja Declaration target for health funding,
Integrate NCD services into primary healthcare,
Complete and publish the pending NCD STEP survey, and
Establish a standing committee on hypertension and diabetes.
He further recommended pooled procurement and local manufacturing of NCD medications, including antihypertensives, to reduce costs and improve accessibility. Repurposing funds meant for medical outreaches towards expanding NHIS coverage for NCD patients at the primary care level, he said, would be a more sustainable solution.
Prof. Orji, who also serves as lead investigator at the Cardiovascular Research Centre, University of Abuja, highlighted that Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs) account for 31% of adult health conditions in Nigeria, while strokes—largely caused by unmanaged hypertension—result in 29 deaths per 100,000 people annually.
“NCDs do not spare anyone, not even lawmakers,” he warned. “Data shows lawmakers may even be at greater cardiovascular risk. These diseases cause 29% of all deaths in Nigeria and lead to 22% of adults dying prematurely. Households are spending up to 24% of food-related income on NCD treatments.”
Despite having several NCD-related policies, including the 1992 Health Sector Plan and the 2019 National Multi-Sectoral Action Plan (NMSAP), Prof. Orji lamented that implementation remains weak. The NMSAP targets include reducing hypertension by 25%, increasing screening coverage to 80%, and cutting salt consumption by 30%.
He cited successes recorded by the Nigeria Hypertension Control Initiative (NHCI), supported by AstraZeneca, which has raised hypertension control rates in the FCT and 19 other states from 23% to 57% over three years.
Prof. Orji concluded by emphasizing that patients enrolled in health insurance programs are more likely to adhere to treatment and show better health outcomes, urging lawmakers to support the expansion of NHIS to cover NCD care at scale.
