Raise The Tax, Save Lives: CAPPA Urges FG To Act On Sugary Drink Crisis
The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has issued a passionate call for the Nigerian government to urgently increase the Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) tax, warning that the nation is “under attack” from an escalating health crisis fuelled by excessive consumption of sugary drinks.
Speaking at a media roundtable in Abuja, CAPPA’s Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, described the current ₦10 per litre SSB tax as a “token gesture” that is failing to curb rising cases of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, stroke, hypertension, and obesity.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), NCDs now account for one in three deaths in Nigeria.
“This is not just a health concern; it’s a national emergency,” Oluwafemi warned. “Families are selling land, emptying savings, and falling into poverty just to care for loved ones. Meanwhile, sugary drinks are sold freely, many unlabelled, some of unknown origin.”
CAPPA is demanding an increase in the SSB tax to at least ₦130 per litre a move it says will raise prices by 20–50%, discourage excessive consumption, and prompt beverage manufacturers to reformulate their products.
Beyond the health benefits, the advocacy group noted that a stronger SSB tax could generate over ₦200 billion annually, funds which could be channelled into health insurance, school feeding, and nutrition education.
Oluwafemi also raised alarm over unregulated imports and misleading marketing at food expos, where foreign sugary drinks were displayed without proper labels or approval. “We’re becoming a dumping ground,” he said. “And our people deserve to know exactly what they are drinking.”
The organisation debunked industry-backed arguments claiming the tax would harm jobs and the economy, calling such narratives “fear-mongering.”
Citing global success stories from South Africa, Mexico, and the UK, CAPPA argued that bold reforms have worked elsewhere and could do the same in Nigeria.
“We are not asking for miracles,” Oluwafemi added. “We are asking for leadership, for courage, and for a future where a bottle of soft drink is not cheaper than clean water.”
