A Pan-African organisation, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), has revealed that non-communicable diseases (NCDs), primarily driven by the overconsumption of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs), are responsible for approximately 30% of deaths annually in Nigeria. Akinbode Oluwafemi, the Executive Director of CAPPA, highlighted this alarming issue during a two-day training in Kano aimed at educating journalists about the impact of SSBs and the potential benefits of an SSB tax.
Oluwafemi stressed that Nigeria is grappling with an escalating public health crisis, primarily fueled by unhealthy diets, including excessive intake of ultra-processed foods like sugary drinks. He explained that studies show the rise of NCDs, once considered distant threats, has now become a widespread reality. These diseases are not only costing lives but are also draining the country’s healthcare resources, with the healthcare system overwhelmed by the burden of treatment.
He pointed out that food corporations employ aggressive marketing strategies targeting Nigerians, especially children and young adults, pushing them toward unhealthy food choices that harm public health and drain resources. The Nigerian government’s introduction of the SSB tax in 2021, which imposes a N10 levy on sweetened, carbonated drinks, was seen as an effort to address this problem. However, the CAPPA director criticised the tax as insufficient and ineffective due to its low rate and the lack of transparency in how the funds are used.
Health experts, Dr. Ekiyor Joseph and Dr. Oluwatosin Edafe, support a substantial increase in the SSB tax, proposing a 40% hike to reduce consumption and curb the diseases tied to excessive sugar intake. They emphasised that the funds raised should be redirected to improving the country’s healthcare system to tackle the growing health crisis better. The training event also aimed to equip journalists with the tools to accurately report these pressing public health issues and the policies designed to protect citizens’ well-being.
