Health Experts Urge Nigerian Government to Increase Sugar Tax to N130/Litre to Fight NCDs and Boost Healthcare Revenue

 

ABUJA, Nigeria — A public health advocacy group has urged the Federal Government to dramatically raise the sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) tax to at least N130 per litre, warning that the country is facing a growing health crisis linked to excessive soft drink consumption.

The call came during a media roundtable in Abuja, where Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) described the current N10/litre tax as ineffective and outdated.

A National Health Emergency

According to CAPPA’s Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, Nigeria is grappling with a surge in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and heart disease — many of which are driven by excessive sugar intake from beverages.

“These drinks are silently fuelling a health catastrophe,” Oluwafemi warned. “Hospitals are overcrowded, families are going bankrupt, and young people are dying far too soon.”

He emphasized that the existing SSB tax, introduced in 2021, barely dents the retail price of soft drinks and has failed to discourage consumption.

Why N130 per Litre?

CAPPA argues that to be effective, the SSB tax must raise drink prices by at least 20–50%, aligning with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. The proposed N130/litre tax would achieve this by significantly increasing retail costs and encouraging manufacturers to reduce sugar content.

The group also sees the tax as a major revenue opportunity, with projections suggesting it could generate over N200 billion annually — funds that could boost healthcare, nutrition education, and school feeding programs.

Policy Recommendations

CAPPA called on the government to:

• Increase the SSB tax to N130 per litre

• Use the revenue to fund healthcare, food programs, and NCD prevention

• Enforce clear front-of-pack nutrition labels

• Strengthen accountability from tax authorities

• Build a firewall against industry influence in public health policy

Economic Viewpoint

Supporting the call, economist Austin Iraoya highlighted the hidden cost of sugary drinks, stating that while they are cheap at purchase, they are expensive in the long run due to their impact on public health and family incomes.

“Nigerians are paying for soft drinks with their lives and savings,” he said. He pointed out that countries like Mexico, South Africa, and the UK have successfully implemented stronger sugar taxes and are seeing positive health and fiscal outcomes.