Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has cautioned that Nigeria is potentially facing a serious health crisis if effective taxation on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs), commonly referred to as soft drinks, is not effectively implemented.
Mr. Akinbode Oluwafemi, the Executive Director of CAPPA, made this remark during a media roundtable in Abuja on Tuesday, emphasizing that unhealthy diets, particularly the consumption of soft drinks, are placing Nigeria on the brink of a public health emergency – “gradually converting our streets into graveyards and our hospitals into overcrowded waiting areas.”
He indicated that scientific and medical studies show that SSBs are a major contributor to the alarming increase in non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including the concerning “slump and die” phenomenon currently observed across Nigeria.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) indicates that NCDs account for 1 in 3 deaths in Nigeria.
Referencing a recent report by a national newspaper, which estimated that Nigerians spend approximately ₦1.92 trillion ($1.26 billion) yearly on healthcare related to these preventable diseases, Oluwafemi noted that this crisis has escalated well beyond mere health issues—transforming into a severe social and economic disaster. He reiterated that failing to act will ultimately incur higher costs for Nigerians.
Current ₦10/Litre Tax Irrelevant
In 2021, the Nigerian government enacted the SSB tax, imposing a minimal levy of ₦10 per litre Excise Duty on all non-alcoholic, sweetened, and carbonated beverages. This policy was viewed as a health-oriented measure intended to discourage excessive consumption of SSBs, decrease public dependence on sugary drinks, and curb the upward trend in NCDs.
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According to CAPPA, the ₦10/litre tax was and continues to be inadequate, given that at the time a 33cl bottle of SSB cost approximately ₦150. “Since three bottles constitute one litre, the tax per bottle amounted to about ₦3.33, representing a mere 2 percent increase in price, too weak to discourage consumption.
“Presently, with bottles sold at over ₦300, this tax now represents just about 1 percent of the price, failing to influence market behavior or enhance public health results,” he stated.
The Executive Director stressed that findings from global health research are clear: “to meet public health goals, health taxes must increase retail prices by at least 20–50 percent. Nigeria’s ₦10/litre charge is insufficient to effectively alter consumer behavior; it does not even touch the surface of the issue. It will not function properly unless it is significantly increased,” Oluwafemi added.
In this regard, CAPPA and its advocates for healthy food are calling for the government to:
“Raise the SSB tax so that it escalates the final retail cost of sugary beverages by 20 to 30 percent — or ideally 50 percent, according to WHO guidelines. Specifically, we urge the Nigerian government to increase the SSB tax from ₦10 per litre to at least ₦130 per litre. This will lead to reduced consumption and compel manufacturers to reformulate their products.”
“Designate revenues for healthcare, NCD prevention, nutrition education, essential health services in underserved areas, and school feeding initiatives,” Oluwafemi stated.
CAPPA further called on the government to enforce clear front-of-pack labeling on all food and beverage items so that Nigerians are aware of their consumption, in addition to requiring annual public accountability reports from the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigeria Customs Service, and the Ministries of Finance and Health.
The civil society organizations also urged the government to establish robust protections against industry influence. “Policies must prioritize the public rather than corporate profits. Allocate resources to food security and agroecology. By backing the production of real and healthy food, we can strengthen local food systems, enhance public health, and reduce Nigeria’s harmful reliance on ultra-processed foods.”
