A Consultant Family and Lifestyle Medicine Physician, Dr. Moyosore Makinde, has advised adults aged 18 and above to get seven to nine hours of restorative sleep daily for optimal health.
Makinde, also President of the Society of Lifestyle Medicine of Nigeria (SOLONg), gave the recommendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.
She spoke while commemorating the World Sleep Day, observed annually on March 13, emphasising the importance of adequate sleep in maintaining overall wellbeing, productivity, and long-term physical and mental health.
The 2026 World Sleep Day, themed “Sleep Well, Live Better,” is dedicated to raising awareness about sleep’s critical role in human health and encouraging individuals to adopt healthier sleep habits.
Makinde explained that recommended sleep duration varied according to age, noting that while adults required fewer hours, infants and children needed longer sleep periods for proper development and overall wellbeing.
Citing World Health Organization (WHO) stipulations, Makinde recommended seven to nine hours of restorative sleep for adults above 18, explaining that infants and children required significantly longer sleep duration.
She decried the high level of sleep deprivation among the populace, noting many people failed to get adequate sleep daily, a situation she warned could negatively affect health, safety and wellbeing.
Makinde said the fast pace of modern life often left little time for rest, urging Nigerians to deliberately prioritise sleep by creating time for proper rest, relaxation and recovery daily.
She attributed sleep deprivation to multiple factors, including health challenges, lack of time, social media addiction, poor sleeping environments, unhealthy sleep positions, and demanding daily schedules aimed at survival.
