The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, CAPPA has called on the Federal Government to increase the Sugar-Sweetened Beverages, SSBs tax from ₦10 to at least ₦130 per litre, in line with global best practices and World Health Organisation, WHO’s recommendations.
The call was made during a media roundtable on SSB tax in Abuja by CAPPA’s Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, who urged authorities to prioritise public health by adjusting the current tax regime to reflect a 20–50 percent increase in the retail price of sugary drinks.
According to Oluwafemi, “A stronger and better-structured SSB tax has the potential to generate over ₦200 billion each year,” noting that such funds could be earmarked to support the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, the National Health Insurance Authority, and school feeding programmes.
He said the current ₦10 per litre tax is too minimal to influence consumer behaviour, accounting for only 1 percent of the average retail price of sugary drinks, and reiterated that a robust tax structure could help curb the rising incidence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
CAPPA also demanded that revenue from the SSB tax be earmarked for healthcare services, nutrition education, and NCD prevention, particularly in underserved communities.
Other recommendations included mandatory front-of-pack labelling on all food and beverage products, annual public reporting by revenue and health agencies, and stricter safeguards against industry interference.
The organisation urged the government to invest in food security and agroecology as long-term solutions to Nigeria’s dietary health crisis, stressing that reducing sugar-laden drink consumption could ease pressure on the health system while improving national health outcomes.
Oluwafemi further called out misinformation campaigns by industry players, particularly attempts to label the SSB tax as a “sugar tax,” and rejected claims that increased taxation would harm the economy or cause job losses.
He cited examples from countries like South Africa, Mexico, and the United Kingdom, where similar taxes led to reduced consumption without negatively impacting jobs or economic growth.
Reaffirming that the health burden from sugary drinks is now a national crisis, Oluwafemi stated, “A stronger SSB tax will save lives, ease the pressure on our fragile health system, and generate much-needed revenue to build a healthier, more prosperous nation.”