Stakeholders Advocate Hike In Taxes In Sugar Sweetened Beverages
Princess-Ekwi Ajide (ABS Abuja Bureau Chief)
The Nigeria government has since commenced the implementation of tax on sugar sweetened beverages, SSB, with the Finance Act 2021 which provides for an excise duty tax on non alcoholic, carbonated and sweetened beverages so as to improve public health outcomes.
This tax imposition, of 10 naira per litre, stakeholders, converging on Abuja, the capital city, say is not enough to support the global efforts at addressing the consumption of too much sugar and therefore, called for a tax increase on sugary drinks in Nigeria.
Reports, say, over consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages has become a significant public health issue as such drinks have been linked to obesity, diabetes and other health problems that can be major risk factors for various chronic diseases and many other cardiovascular diseases.
Speaker after speaker at the national conference on sugar-sweetened beverages tax, urged the federal government to impose an increase in taxes on sugar-sweetened beverage products that align with global best practices.
The speakers from various sectors, emphasized that a 20% tax increase on sugary drinks could lead to a 20% reduction in consumption, thereby, effectively combating the rising issues of obesity and diabetes.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and social welfare, Professor Muhammad Pate, represented by Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike, expressed federal government’s commitment to implementing recommendations on the Sugar-sweetened beverage tax.
The Executive Director, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, CAPPA, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said the essence if the conference was to raise awareness and make concerted efforts to halt the mounting health challenges owing to consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.
The Executive Assistant on Policy and Strategy, to the Bayelsa state Governor, Dr. Patterson Ogon, also reechoed the need for all hands to be on deck in the effort to reduce the consumption of sugary drinks and addressing the country’s growing health challenges.
A host of stakeholders including public health organizations, medical professionals, and citizens, are however worried, that increase in taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages may only have effect on the consumption strength of the poor but will have slight or no effect on that of the rich and powerful in Nigeria.
