The Healthy Food Policy Youth Vanguard, HFPYV has called on Nigeria’s Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, to back efforts aimed at raising the tax on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages, SSBs from Ten Naira per litre to One Hundred and Thirty Naira per litre in a bid to curb rising health risks among young Nigerians.
The advocacy group, which champions food justice and public health, described the tax hike as a pro-people and pro-health policy necessary to reduce the alarming rate of Non-Communicable Diseases, NCDs linked to excessive consumption of sugary drinks.
In a statement issued by its representative, Afeez Adebayo, after a meeting with the Minister, HFPYV raised concerns over the aggressive marketing tactics of the sugary drinks and ultra-processed food industry, which it claims targets young Nigerians with unhealthy products and misleading advertising. The group warned that this trend is fueling poor dietary habits among youth, leading to an increase in diseases such as Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases, CVDs and Cancer.
HFPYV emphasized that the Ministry of Youth Development must take urgent steps to counteract the unchecked exposure of young Nigerians to unhealthy food and drink choices.
“Food corporations are relentlessly targeting young Nigerians with unhealthy sugar-sweetened beverages and ultra-processed foods, which are high in sugar and sodium. This prioritization of corporate profits over public health is worsening the country’s rising burden of debilitating diseases,” the group stated.
The organization also pointed to a worrying decline in the consumption of traditional Nigerian dishes, as many young people have become accustomed to ultra-processed foods, leading to the loss of indigenous food knowledge and cooking skills.
Additionally, HFPYV highlighted the economic burden of unhealthy diets, citing data from the National Health Accounts, which shows that Nigerian households with NCD patients spend an average of 398.52 Dollars per year on healthcare, while the country as a whole spends around 1.26 billion Dollars annually treating these diseases.
HFPYV outlined the importance of the SSB tax, introduced in 2021 as part of the Finance Act, which initially placed a 10 Naira levy per litre on carbonated and non-alcoholic drinks. However, a 2024 study endorsed by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare found that this amount is insufficient to deter excessive consumption, as beverage prices have since surged from 150 Naira per bottle to between 350 Naira and 450 Naira.
The study recommended increasing the tax to 130 Naira per litre, a move that could generate 729 billion Naira in additional government revenue, which could be used to strengthen Nigeria’s struggling healthcare system, particularly in tackling diet-related illnesses.
HFPYV also referenced global health experts, including Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, who recently advocated for a minimum 50 percent tax rate on unhealthy foods. Studies suggest that such measures could prevent over 50 million premature deaths worldwide in the next 50 years.
About HFPYV
HFPYV was founded on July 3, 2024, by Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, CAPPA to empower young advocates in raising public awareness about healthy diets, food justice, and policy reforms. The organization actively engages in social media campaigns, grassroots mobilization, and stakeholder advocacy to push for policies that prioritize public health over corporate profits.
With Nigeria’s youth comprising over 70 percent of the population, HFPYV insists that urgent policy interventions are necessary to ensure their well-being and secure a healthier future for the country.