By Oso Abidemi 

A sharp rise of over 300 per cent in the cost of diabetes medications, coupled with poor access to care and harmful beliefs, is worsening Nigeria’s diabetes crisis, forcing many patients to ration drugs, abandon clinics or turn to unproven herbal remedies, with deadly consequences.

Experts estimate that between 30,000 and 40,000 Nigerians die annually from diabetes-related complications, including stroke, kidney failure and amputations.

The disease, which affects over 11.4 million Nigerians, is now ranked among the country’s top 10 killer ailments, yet continues to receive limited policy attention and funding.

In Abuja, patients like Mrs Leticia Nnabuike say the cost of managing diabetes has become unbearable. Her monthly treatment expenses rose from about N40,000 to over N120,000, forcing her to skip doses.

Others, like Lukman Hassan, have completely abandoned orthodox medicine in favour of herbal alternatives due to soaring prices.

According to the Diabetes Association of Nigeria (DAN), more than two-thirds of diabetes cases in the country remain undiagnosed, while only about a third of diagnosed patients receive proper treatment.

DAN President, Prof. Ejiofor Ugwu, warned that the surge in drug prices between 300 and 500 per cent in recent years has pushed many patients off treatment entirely, increasing preventable deaths.

Despite a government tax waiver on pharmaceutical products, experts say the impact has been minimal, as over 95 per cent of anti-diabetic drugs are imported. Recent checks show that commonly used drugs such as metformin and Amaryl have tripled in price within a year.

Health professionals are calling on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on diabetes, expand screening, subsidise essential medicines, and revive policies such as higher taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages to curb rising cases.

The World Health Organisation has also urged stronger health taxes, warning that cheap and widely available sugary drinks are fuelling diabetes and other non-communicable diseases, particularly in low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria.

Without urgent intervention, stakeholders warn that drug rationing, late diagnosis and weak primary care could further escalate diabetes-related deaths, deepening what many now describe as a full-blown public health emergency.

By Huldah Shado

A teenage girl, Anu Adeleke, whose mother has long claimed that Nigerian music star Davido is her biological father, has publicly appealed to the singer to undergo a DNA test to confirm her paternity.

Anu said she has endured years of ridicule and bullying from fellow students who mock her whenever she identifies Davido as her father. She explained that the constant laughter and disbelief have taken an emotional toll on her, as the paternity claim remains unresolved and surrounded by public doubt.

According to the teenager, her mother has consistently maintained that Davido fathered her, a claim that has continued to generate controversy and speculation over the years.

In an Instagram post shared on Wednesday, January 15, Anu directly tagged the singer and urged him to submit to a DNA test, saying it would establish the truth once and for all and put an end to the bullying and questions she has faced for most of her life.

The appeal has since attracted widespread attention on social media, reigniting debate over the long-standing claim and renewed calls for a definitive resolution through a DNA test.

By Onilede Titi Faith

The World Health Organisation has called on Nigeria and other countries to significantly increase taxes on sugary drinks and alcoholic beverages to curb rising cases of non-communicable diseases and improve public health outcomes.
In a statement this week, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said low tax rates have made sugary drinks and alcohol too affordable, contributing to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancers and injuries, particularly among children and young people.
He described health taxes as one of the most effective tools for reducing harmful consumption while generating revenue for health services. According to WHO, evidence shows that higher excise taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages and alcohol reduce consumption and provide funds that can be channelled into public health programmes.
The organisation noted that although many countries already tax these products, rates often fail to keep pace with inflation and income growth, making them increasingly affordable. It said this undermines efforts to reduce preventable diseases.
WHO’s call aligns with its “3 by 35” initiative, which urges countries to increase excise taxes on tobacco, alcohol and sugary drinks by up to 50 per cent over the next decade.
In Nigeria, an excise duty of N10 per litre is currently imposed on sugar-sweetened beverages, but health experts say the rate is too low to significantly influence consumption or disease risk.