Health

5 silent killer-foods Nigerians love

Published

1 year ago

June 9, 2024

Nigerian cuisine is renowned for its rich flavors, vibrant colors, and diverse ingredients.

However, amid the array of delicious dishes, there are some foods that, despite their popularity, pose significant health risks.

Here are five silent killer foods that many Nigerians love:

1. Suya (Carcinogenic)

Suya

Suya, a spicy skewered meat popular across Nigeria, is a favorite street food enjoyed by many. However, this tasty delight comes with a hidden danger. The process of grilling meat at high temperatures can lead to the formation of carcinogenic compounds known as heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These compounds have been linked to an increased risk of cancer. Regular consumption of suya, particularly when it is charred, can elevate this risk, making it a silent killer on the dinner table.

2. Shawarma (Due to Hot Dogs)

Shawarma

Shawarma, a Middle Eastern-inspired wrap filled with spiced meat, vegetables, and sauces, has become immensely popular in Nigeria. Often, hot dogs or other processed meats are used in the filling, which contain preservatives like nitrates and nitrites. These preservatives can convert into nitrosamines, which are carcinogenic. Furthermore, processed meats have been linked to various health issues, including heart disease and diabetes. Despite its delicious taste, frequent consumption of shawarma can contribute to these health problems.

3. Nkwobi (Excess Potassium)

Nkwobi

Nkwobi, a delicacy made from cow feet cooked in a spicy palm oil sauce, is a beloved traditional dish. However, it is also a silent killer due to its high potassium content. For individuals with kidney problems or those at risk of hyperkalemia (high potassium levels), consuming Nkwobi can be dangerous. Excess potassium can lead to irregular heartbeats and even heart failure. While it is a flavorful dish, those with existing health conditions need to be cautious about its consumption.

4. Kilishi

Kilishi

Kilishi, a dried, spicy meat similar to jerky, is another Nigerian favorite. The drying and seasoning process often involves adding a significant amount of salt, which can contribute to high blood pressure (hypertension). Although kilishi is a convenient and tasty snack, its high salt content makes it a silent threat to cardiovascular health.

5. Deep-Fried Snacks

Deep Fried Snacks (Akara)

Deep-fried snacks such as puff-puff, buns, akara (bean cakes), and plantain chips are immensely popular in Nigeria. These snacks, while delicious, are often cooked in unhealthy oils that contain trans fats. Trans fats are known to increase bad cholesterol (LDL) levels and decrease good cholesterol (HDL) levels, leading to an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Additionally, the high-calorie content of deep-fried foods can contribute to obesity, which is a risk factor for numerous chronic diseases.

Health

Nigerian govt supplies two million polio vaccines to Kebbi

Published

5 days ago

June 14, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The Nigerian government has delivered two million doses of polio vaccines to Kebbi State as part of a nationwide immunisation campaign targeting children under the age of five.

The vaccine supply, facilitated by the Federal Ministry of Health through the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, is part of efforts to halt the circulation of polio variants and strengthen immunity among vulnerable children.

Yusuf Umar Sauwa, spokesperson for the Kebbi State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, confirmed the development, describing the vaccines as potent booster doses capable of interrupting transmission.

“These vaccines will strengthen immunity among children and ensure the virus does not resurface,” he said.

Sauwa added that Kebbi currently has zero reported cases of polio, attributing this to the state’s strong surveillance and routine immunisation systems.

To address issues of non-compliance and vaccine rejection, particularly in areas such as Jega, Koko, and Birnin Kebbi, religious and traditional leaders have been actively engaged to help dispel misinformation and promote vaccine acceptance.

Health

Adamawa commences polio vaccination targeting 1.3m children

Published

5 days ago

June 14, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Adamawa State on Saturday commenced the June 2025 oral polio vaccination targeting over 1.3 million children aged 0–59 months.

The state government explained at a press briefing, forming part of the four-day vaccination exercise lasting June 14 to June 17, that it had received a total of 1,572,300 doses of the vaccines for the targeted 1,379,814 children across the 21 LGAs of the state.

The State Director of Disease Control and Immunization, Dr. James Vasumu, who gave the figures, said necessary sensitization had been carried out for all parents across the 226 wards of the state to present their under-five children for the vital oral polio vaccination.

The Executive Chairman of the Adamawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Suleiman Bashir, appealed for media coverage of the oral polio vaccination campaign that will achieve 100 percent acceptance by the people.

Making the point that some families in certain places still view the oral vaccines with skepticism, Bashir told the newsmen at the briefing, “We need behavioural change among households. We need them to believe that the vaccine is safe and to access this vaccination which government spends much money to make available for free.”

The Oral Polio Vaccination Campaign is a joint venture by the Federal Government, the various state governments, as well as NGOs that include UNICEF, WHO, and other partners.

A national official from the Emergency Operation Centre, Professor Georgina Odaibo, who bears the responsibility of improving information sharing regarding the polio vaccination campaign, said she has enough expertise as a virologist to attest to the safety of the polio vaccine.

She explained that though Nigeria is free of wild polio, the vaccination is necessary to reinforce the country’s status and ensure that no Nigerian falls victim should any infected foreigner get into the country.

Health

Sugary drinks, refined carbohydrates, processed meats, major causes of cancer – Varsity Don

Published

2 weeks ago

June 7, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

A professor of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Ibadan, Victor Ifeolu Akinmoladun has declared that pro-inflammatory diets such as sugary drinks, refined carbohydrates, processed meats, fried foods including persistent inflammation are the major causes of oral cancer.

Akinmoladun made the assertion while delivering the 582nd inaugural lecture of the University of Ibadan.

The don while delivering the lecture titled, “The Scalpel and the Laboratory: Collaboration Against the Lawless”, maintained that cancer is a major societal, public health, and socioeconomic problem in the 21st century.

He added that cancer causes 3 in 10 global premature deaths from non-communicable diseases, NCDs, in those aged 30 to 69 years.

Akinmoladun while addressing the gathering said cancer is responsible for almost one in six of all deaths and one in four deaths from NCDs worldwide, adding that head and neck cancer (HNC) is ranked at between 6th to 10th most common cancers in the world.

He described the relationship between inflammation and cancer as an agreement between two individuals or groups of persons to achieve an unlawful or illegal and harmful goal, often with fatal consequences.

The don affirmed that higher vegetable and fruit consumption have protective effects on cancers of the stomach, oesophagus, lung, oral cavity, pharynx, and colon.

He maintained that micronutrients such as zinc, copper and selenium along with antioxidants as well as vitamins are required for the production of various enzymes that help prevent DNS damage caused by free radicals and also maintain the integrity of mucosal surfaces.

He added that cancer is not exactly the direct consequence of a failed immune system or a compromised system but they can significantly contribute to cancer development, while the understanding of the compromises forms the basis for immune therapy against cancers.

He also recommended supplements rich in antioxidants and single-carbon metabolism, vitamins, in addition to lifestyle changes, particularly the avoidance of alcohol and tobacco use.

He said that “Many cancers are known to be induced by chronic inflammation, while many more are sustained by it.

“Soluble and cellular inflammatory mediators such as cytokines are responsible for tumour initiation and associated with progression in some cancer cases including head and neck cancers.

“Figures on the burden of the disease are difficult to obtain in Nigeria, data on survival in oral cancer is also hardly available’.