CAPPA unveils ‘Sweet Poison’, warns of Nigeria’s sugary drink crisis

Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has premiered a new documentary, “Sweet Poison”, casting a critical light on the widespread consumption of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) in Nigeria and their links to rising non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and environmental degradation.

The non-governmental organisation (NGO) unveiled the 20-minute film to the public at a media presentation in Lagos on Wednesday, saying it explores how ultra-processed food and beverage companies have entrenched sugary drinks in everyday Nigerian life through aggressive marketing and deep market penetration, with dangerous public health consequences.

In a statement after the premier, CAPPA warned that as sugary beverages become common fixtures in homes, schools and communities, Nigeria continues to witness rising cases of diet-related illnesses, including Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obesity and cardiovascular disease.

“Blending expert analysis with personal stories and striking visuals, the documentary features perspectives from policymakers, medical professionals, NCD patients, traders, fishermen, and university students to examine the growing public health crisis linked to the excessive consumption of sugary drinks,” the group explained, adding that it also exposes the broader environmental footprint of the beverage industry, from plastic pollution to resource-intensive production processes.

“Sweet Poison’ is an attempt to connect the dots,” said Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director of CAPPA. “It combines medical evidence, lived experiences and on-the-ground realities to show how growing dependence on sugary drinks is quietly reshaping the nation’s health profile.”

The documentary also spotlights CAPPA’s efforts to drive youth involvement in policy advocacy through engagements at both national and sub-national levels.

At its core, the film raises an important policy question about whether Nigeria’s current SSB tax is fit for purpose. Introduced under the Finance Act 2021, the policy placed a N10 per litre excise tax on non-alcoholic, sweetened and carbonated drinks as part of efforts to reduce over-consumption of sugary beverages and generate revenue for health interventions. However, CAPPA argues that the SSB Tax design and scale have limited its effectiveness in changing consumer behaviour or challenging harmful industry practices.

According to CAPPA, the documentary argues for a smarter tax framework, including a 50 percent excise tax on the final retail price of SSB products, or at the very least no less than 20 percent, alongside earmarking portions of the revenue for public health initiatives.

“With the burden of non-communicable diseases rising and healthcare costs climbing, Nigeria cannot afford half-measures,” Oluwafemi added. “A stronger SSB tax is a fiscal tool, and a necessary public health intervention.”

Guests at the screening included Dr. Saheed Babajide, Lagos Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association, Diabetes “Lived experience expert” Ronke Opaleye; Founder of the Diabetes & Limb Salvage Foundation (DLSF) Ms. Osarenkhoe Chima-Nwogwugwu; the CEO of Stradev Nigeria, Dr. Leslie Adogame and Sam Eferaro, publisher of Nigeria Health Online (NHO), among others.

The documentary premiered on TVC News, one of Nigeria’s most widely watched national television stations, on 5 May 2026 and is currently being aired across multiple media platforms nationwide.

The documentary is also available on the CAPPA official YouTube channel, in the link: https://youtu.be/wHHBEEk22rY?si=276GX7N_upk0DnjA and across all CAPPA social media platforms.

As conversations around food systems and public health continue to gain momentum in Nigeria, Sweet Poison arrives as both a warning and a call to action, urging policymakers, the media and the public to confront a growing crisis that often hides in plain sight.