Study reveals high blood pressure impacts nearly two-fifths of Nigeria's adult population by 2025

Nigeria continues to grapple with the significant public health issue of hypertension, which is expected to affect between 35 per cent and 40 per cent of the adult population by 2025, as indicated in the State of Health of the Nation Report 2025.

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The report, which was made available on Wednesday in Abuja, was compiled in accordance with the National Health Act of 2014, and it reveals that while the prevalence of high blood pressure remains high, there has been an improvement in awareness of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases in 2025 compared to the previous year.

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This improvement can be attributed to the intensified advocacy efforts by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, as well as professional health bodies, which have contributed to a greater awareness of these conditions in 2025.

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The inclusion of non-communicable disease screening in primary healthcare facilities and community outreach programmes has also led to incremental gains in the early detection of hypertension and diabetes, particularly among men aged 15 to 59 years.

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The Family Health Department of the ministry has begun to integrate men's health into the national health system in a more deliberate manner, with a focus on addressing the specific health risks that affect the male population.

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The report highlights the growing burden of mental health and substance abuse disorders among men, with an estimated 14 million Nigerians having a history of drug use.

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In response to this, government-led prevention campaigns and collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency were intensified in 2025 to strengthen public awareness and early intervention.

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Furthermore, progress has been made in integrating mental health services into primary healthcare, with over 3,000 primary healthcare workers trained across states to identify common mental health conditions and strengthen referral systems.

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

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The report emphasizes the need for sustained investments in primary healthcare services, health promotion, and preventive care to reduce the burden of hypertension and other non-communicable diseases in Nigeria.

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The State of Health of the Nation Report provides an annual assessment of Nigeria's health sector performance, highlighting progress, challenges, and priority actions across key health programmes and services nationwide, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.