Hypertension affects up to 40% of Nigerian adults –Report

by Ehichoya Imhanfiabor

Hypertension remains a major public health concern in Nigeria, affecting an estimated 35 to 40 per cent of adults in 2025, according to the State of Health of the Nation Report 2025.

The report, produced in line with the provisions of the National Health Act, was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja.

According to the report, although the prevalence of high blood pressure remains high, awareness of hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases improved in 2025 compared with 2024. The progress was attributed to intensified advocacy campaigns by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and professional health organisations.

The report noted that the integration of non-communicable disease screening into selected primary healthcare facilities and community outreach programmes contributed to gradual improvements in the early detection of hypertension and diabetes. The initiative particularly targeted men between the ages of 15 and 59.

It further stated that the ministry’s Family Health Department had begun incorporating men’s health more deliberately into the national health system in an effort to address specific health risks affecting the male population.

Beyond cardiovascular conditions, the report highlighted a rising burden of mental health and substance abuse disorders among men. It estimated that about 14 million Nigerians have a history of drug use.

To address this trend, government-led prevention campaigns were intensified in 2025, alongside strengthened collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency to improve public awareness and support early intervention.

The report also pointed to progress in integrating mental health services into primary healthcare delivery. More than 3,000 primary healthcare workers across the country were trained to identify common mental health conditions and improve referral systems.

Despite the improvements in awareness and screening efforts, the report stressed that significant gaps remain in early diagnosis, service utilisation, and screening coverage, particularly for non-communicable diseases among men.