CAPPA Documentary Raises Alarm Over Sugary Drinks, Health Crisis In Nigeria
As non-communicable diseases continue to rise across Nigeria, a new documentary by the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) is drawing attention to the hidden dangers of sugary drinks and the growing public health burden linked to their consumption.
The 20-minute documentary titled Sweet Poison premiered in Lagos on Wednesday, exposing how Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) have become deeply embedded in everyday Nigerian life through aggressive marketing and widespread availability.
The film highlights the connection between excessive sugary drink consumption and increasing cases of Type 2 diabetes, obesity, hypertension and cardiovascular diseases, while also drawing attention to the environmental impact of plastic pollution and resource-intensive beverage production.
Speaking after the premiere, CAPPA Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said the documentary combines medical evidence, personal experiences and expert analysis to reveal how sugary drinks are quietly reshaping Nigeria’s health profile.
The documentary also questions the effectiveness of Nigeria’s current SSB tax introduced under the Finance Act 2021, which imposes a N10 per litre excise duty on sweetened beverages.
CAPPA argued that the tax remains too weak to significantly reduce consumption or influence industry practices.
The organisation is advocating a stronger tax regime of at least 20 percent, or ideally 50 percent, on the retail price of sugary drinks, with part of the revenue dedicated to public health interventions.
Guests at the screening included medical experts, diabetes advocates, environmental stakeholders and media professionals.
Sweet Poison first premiered on TVC News on May 5 and is currently airing on multiple media platforms nationwide.
The documentary is also available on CAPPA’s YouTube channel.
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