Why Nigeria must increase tax on sugary drinks - CAPPA

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By Paul Dada

The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa has called for an increase in tax on Sugar Sweetened Beverages.

The Pan-African human rights organisation stated its position in a two-day training programme for journalists which held in Ikeja, Lagos on Thursday and Friday.

Speakers at the programme harped on the fact that sugary foods and drinks contribute in a great way to non-commuicable diseases such as hypertension, cancer and diabetes.

They therefore called on the Federal Government to increase the excise tax on SSBs which they hoped would cause increases in their retail prices and consequently discourage consumption by Nigerians.

Speaking, the Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), lamented that over 11 million people are living with diabetes. He also added that Nigeria is the fourth-largest soft drink consumer in the world.

The CAPPA boss said that N10 tax per litre introduced by the FG in the Finance Act of 2021 was not enough to discourage too much of consumption of sugary drinks by Nigerians.

He called on journalists to join in the campaign for an increase in the SSB tax.

He said: “It is essential to collaborate to ensure that our communities have access to accurate information, that policymakers are held accountable for national policy framework, and that public health remains a top priority in our communities and country.”

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Adding, Olufemi said: “This is less than the worldwide suggested 20% rise in SSB tax. In order to draw in customers, manufacturers still employ dishonest marketing, content disclosure, and exaggerated claims about nutrition. Public health policy interventions are greatly aided by the work of journalists.

“Media practitioners can highlight social concerns and promote public health policy changes, such as the successful excise on sugar-sweetened beverages. They can also highlight regulatory gaps and reveal SSB firms’ business practices. Storytelling that connects with the public and emphasizes negative health effects is crucial for public health advocacy”.

Also speaking, the Programme Director of Development Communications Network and Chief Editor of Nature Africa, said that SSBs have been found to have caused non-communicable diseases, which are responsible for 74% of global deaths.

He said: “Studies have shown a strong link between sugary drinks (SSBs) and the risk of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). Nigerian journalists, he emphasized, play a crucial role in shaping public perceptions, raising awareness, and holding policymakers accountable for addressing these health challenges.

“Regular consumption of SSBs has been associated with higher risks of obesity, type 2 diabetes, dental caries, and other NCDs.

“The World Health Organisation (WHO), in a publication on August 9, 2023, highlighted that dietary free sugars, largely consumed through sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), are recognized as a major contributor to the global obesity pandemic. This growing concern has sparked efforts to reduce the intake of SSBs to combat the rising rates of obesity and related Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) worldwide.

“Despite these very evident health risks, a researcher noted in 2019, public awareness of the danger that the consumption of SSBs poses to health remains low in Nigeria”.

Other speakers at the two day event, included Dr. Francis Fagbule a public health expert; Mr. Fidelix Obaniyi, an economist and Ms Joke Kujenya the Executive-in-Charge, Media Mentors Journalism Centre. They all harped on the need to highlight the risks of SSB consumption.

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