Health Alert: As sugar sweetened drinks increase risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and others, NGO demands hike in their taxes  

According to America Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) can lead to obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, kidney diseases, non-alcoholic liver disease, tooth decay and cavities, and gout, a type of arthritis.

 

The centre also said on its website that limiting sugary drink intake can help individuals maintain a healthy weight and have healthy dietary patterns.

 

 

The health hazard posed by consumption of SSB and the way around the problem was the theme of a report launched by a Civil Society Organisation, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), on Thursday in Lagos.

 

The report titled: ‘Potential and Public Health Effects of Sugar Sweetened Beverage Tax in Nigeria,’ is a 45-page research document with solutions on what policy makers need to do to preserve public health.

 

The report, presented by, Fidelis Obaniyi of Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA), strongly recommended N130 per litre tax on SSB as against the current regime of N10 per litre.

 

Obaniyi said by implementing N130 per litre SSB tax in Nigeria would result in a substantial decrease in consumption of the products.

 

He  also said: “Specifically, revenue from this excise tax is estimated to rise by 972 per cent (amounting to N729 billion). This additional revenue could be strategically allocated through earmarking to strengthen the country’s healthcare system, particularly basic healthcare, which currently grapples with inadequate funding.”

 

 

In his welcome address, CAPPA’s executive director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said: “When Nigeria introduced the N10 per litre Excise Duty on SSBs in 2021 through the Finance Act, it was celebrated as a win for public health but as concerned advocates with history in the long battle against the menace of tobacco and the tobacco industry, it was important for us to take a critical look at the tax and its structure.

 

“Going by the current inflation rate, the N10 per litre imposed on SSBs in 2021 is today possibly worth less than 4 kobo because it was a fixed tax, not adjustable to inflation.

 

“In essence, the SSB tax needs to be increased significantly in the 2024 Fiscal Act, with a framework that is adjustable to inflation as we also begin the conversation about earmarking the tax or a sizeable portion of it for public health.

 

“The findings of this study have shown that at a minimum of N130 per litre, we will see a significant drop in consumption and a decrease in Nigeria’s consumption fueled diseases.

 

“I am further convinced that this document provides the government, including the executive and lawmakers, the much-needed data to pursue this policy pathway to a logical conclusion for the benefit of all.”