By Charles Okonji
The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), has urged the Federal Government to increase the tax on Sugar and Sweetened Beverages (SSBs), as it will lead to reduction in death caused by consumption of SSBs and increase government revenue.
An increase of SSB tax from ₦10 to ₦130, will significantly increase the the price of SSBs by 39%, causing aggregate annual decrease of 29% in the consumption of SSBs.
This sensitization was necessitated as part of renewed efforts towards curbing the alarming rise of diabetes, obesity, cancer and other diet-related diseases in the country as 11.2 million people currently live with diabetes in Nigeria.
This was disclosed at a two day journalists training on effective SSB tax and industry monitoring, organised by CAPPA in Lagos, where health experts established the critical role played by journalists in shapening public opinion which influences policy making decisions.
In his presentation, the Executive Director, CAPPA, Mr. Akinbode Oluwafemi, stated that habitual consumption of SSBs, does not only affect us as individuals and our communities, but also the health and well-being of our nation as a whole.
Oluwafemi noted; “In Nigeria, studies have shown that close to 30% of annual deaths are due to Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), which are primarily linked to unhealthy diets, particularly the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), also known as “soft drinks”.
According to him; “The high rates of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and other cardiovascular diseases highlight a health crisis in Nigeria, with over 11 million Nigerians currently living with diabetes. Nigeria’s status as the fourth-largest consumer of soft drinks globally is concerning and is a looming health epidemic if not addressed promptly. The adverse effects of these preventable diseases on productivity, revenue loss, and human lives underscore the urgency for effective policy solutions.”
“In response, the government initiated an Excise Duty of N10 per litre tax on all carbonated sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) through the 2021 Finance Act and began its implementation in June 2022, which objective was a measure to reduce the excessive consumption of sugary drinks.
“Though the initiative is a step in the right direction, it falls short of the global recommendation of at least a 20% increase in the final retail price of SSBs. Besides very low tax regime on SSB products, their manufacturers have continued to use deceptive marketing, lack of content disclosure, non-existence of Front of Pack labeling and false nutrition benefit to recruit consumers and sustain profits at the expense of health.”
On his part; the Public Health Consultant, University College Hospital, University of Ibadan, Dr. Francis Fagbule, noted that cancer is responsible for over 72,000 deaths in Nigeria annually, with an accounted 102,000 new cases of cancer annually.
Fagbule stated; “In 2016, Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) were estimated to account for 24% – 29% of all deaths in Nigeria. NCDs account for 24% of total deaths and cardiovascular diseases take a lead of 11% (over 7%) of deaths attributable to NCDs. Cancers (3%), diabetes (2%), and chronic respiratory diseases (1%). The probability of dying prematurely from
NCDs in Nigeria is over 20% according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
“The median out-of-pocket cost of NCDs was ₦ 10,193 – ₦10,750 monthly. The estimations showed that about 30% of households with NCDs experienced catastrophic health expenditures in 2018 and Nigeria’s National Health Accounts show that ₦384.4 billion was spent on NCDs in Nigeria in 2017,” he explained.
The Medical Doctor further explained that SSBs include any liquids, powders, or other concentrated forms that contain natural or added sweeteners, not limited to and including various forms of sugars like brown sugar, corn sweetener, corn syrup, dextrose, fructose, glucose, high-fructose corn syrup, honey, lactose, malt syrup, maltose, molasses, raw sugar, and sucrose.
“This may include soft drinks (i.e., cola), juices (even 100% juices), nectars, sweetened coffee, sugar cane juice, sweetened tea, energy drinks, and flavored dairy. Free sugars include monosaccharides and disaccharides added to foods and beverages by the manufacturer, cook, or consumer, and sugars naturally present in honey, syrups, fruit juices, and fruit juice concentrates.
“SSBs are among the leading sources of free sugars, and they contain little-to-no
added nutritional value. Individuals who consume SSBs do not compensate for the added calories by eating less food, which leads to weight gain and obesity and studies show that SSBs may pose greater health risks, including the risk of metabolic syndrome, compared to sugar-containing solid foods.”
In his lecture, Communicating Public Health Policies: The Role of Nigerian Journalists, the Programme Director, Development Communication Network, Mr. Akin Jimoh, noted that a significant number of Nigerians do not have an idea of how much sugar is hidden in their favorite beverages, stressing the the enormous health challenges which it causes in the long run.
Jimoh said; “In 2021, for example, the Nigerian government proposed a sugar tax to decrease SSB consumption with the hope of decreasing the increasing burden of NCDs. Without sustained public advocacy and continued press coverage, such policies risk failing to achieve full effectiveness.
“It also leads to media campaigns that amplify the voices of health experts, activists, and affected individuals who demand more stringent policies in ramping up sugar taxes, improved labeling regulations, and extensive public health campaigns on the risks of SSBs.”
Mr. Fidelis Obaniyi, an expert, from Centre for the Study of the Economics of Africa (CSEA), advised that with facts, journalists can now shed light on the human impact, economic benefits, and policy implications of increasing SSB taxes.
