Editorial: Tax sugary drinks, save lives

Nigeria is sitting on a public health time bomb, and the Federal Government must act decisively before the burden becomes catastrophic. One of the clearest and most effective interventions available today is a substantial increase in the tax on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs). The current excise duty of N10 per litre is grossly inadequate and fails both as a health measure and a fiscal policy tool. The government should urgently raise the tax to at least 20 per cent of the retail price of sugary drinks in line with global public health recommendations.

Sugary drinks are not harmless refreshments. They are now directly linked to a rising epidemic of non-communicable diseases in Nigeria, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, and tooth decay. Excessive sugar consumption has become a silent killer, particularly among children and young adults who are increasingly targeted by aggressive beverage advertising.

Across Nigerian cities and rural communities alike, sugary beverages are cheaper and more accessible than healthy alternatives. Soft drinks are consumed at parties, schools, offices, and even religious gatherings with little awareness of the long-term consequences. This growing culture of excessive sugar intake is placing enormous pressure on an already overstretched healthcare system.

The World Health Organisation has repeatedly recommended taxation as one of the most effective tools for reducing the consumption of unhealthy products. Countries that have imposed meaningful sugar taxes have recorded positive outcomes. In places such as Mexico, South Africa, and the United Kingdom, higher taxes on sugary beverages have encouraged manufacturers to reduce sugar content while also discouraging excessive consumption.

Nigeria’s N10 per litre tax, introduced in 2022, was presented as a public health intervention. In reality, it has had little measurable impact. The levy is too insignificant to alter consumer behaviour or compel beverage companies to reformulate their products. A bottle of soft drink can still be purchased cheaply with barely any noticeable increase in price attributable to the tax. A policy that consumers hardly feel cannot achieve its intended health objectives.

More troubling is the fact that beverage manufacturers continue to rake in massive profits while the public bears the medical consequences of excessive sugar consumption. Hospitals are witnessing increasing cases of diabetes and cardiovascular complications, many of which are linked to poor diets and unhealthy lifestyles. The economic burden of treating these diseases falls on families, employers, and government institutions.

The Federal Government must therefore demonstrate courage by increasing the SSB tax to at least 20 per cent. Such a move would not only discourage unhealthy consumption but also generate substantial revenue that can be channelled into healthcare, nutrition education, school feeding programmes, and the treatment of non-communicable diseases.

Critics often argue that increasing taxes on sugary drinks could hurt businesses or lead to job losses. This argument is exaggerated. Public health must take precedence over corporate profits. Moreover, experience from other countries shows that industries often adapt through product reformulation, innovation, and healthier alternatives. The goal is not to destroy businesses but to protect citizens from preventable illnesses.

There is also a moral imperative. Government cannot continue to campaign against rising health problems while allowing dangerous consumption patterns to flourish unchecked. The same seriousness applied to tobacco control should also be extended to excessive sugar consumption. Future generations of Nigerians deserve protection from avoidable health crises fuelled by aggressive marketing and weak regulation.

The Nigerian government has an opportunity to show leadership by aligning with international best practices and prioritising the wellbeing of its people. Raising the tax on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages to 20 per cent is not punitive. It is preventive. It is responsible. And it is urgently necessary.

Nigeria must stop subsidising poor health with weak taxation. The era of token levies must end. A stronger sugar tax is a matter of public health, economic sense, and national survival.