The Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, CAPPA, Mr Akinbode Oluwafemi, has urged journalists to intensify conversation about sugary drinks and its relations with public health and Nigeria’s economic future.

He made the appeal in Enugu on Thursday in an opening remark for a two-day Journalism Training on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSB) Tax and Industry Interference.

The training is being attended by journalists drawn from the five South-East states.

He said Nigeria stands at a critical public health and economic crossroads.

According to him, “On the one hand, we are facing an alarming rise in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and obesity.

“These diseases, once considered rare, are now commonplace, cutting across income levels and age groups.

“Our hospitals are overflowing with patients, our families are burdened with healthcare costs, and our productivity is shrinking.

“Noncommunicable diseases currently account for about 30 per cent of all deaths annually in Nigeria, and over 75 per cent of all deaths worldwide, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). What is fuelling this crisis?

“A flood of ultra-processed “food” products (UFPs), especially sugar-laden drinks that masquerade as refreshment but deliver nothing but harm.”

The CAPPA Executive Director further expressed concern that “there is an aggressive sugary drinks industry that manufactures and profits from these unhealthy diets, while deploying misinformation campaigns and lobbying to delay or block life-saving policies and interventions such as the SSB tax”.

While harping on the essence of the SSB tax, he described it as “a public health policy that imposes a levy on sugary drinks to discourage excessive consumption, reduce sugar-related diseases, and generate revenue for health promotion.

“In Nigeria, this tax was introduced in 2021 at N10 per litre of any sugar-sweetened, non-alcoholic beverage, and carbonated drinks.

“From the outset, Nigeria’s current N10 per litre SSB tax, while well-intentioned, is and has always been ineffective. What does this mean?

“For a tax meant to increase retail prices and reduce consumption of sugary drinks, N10 per litre was simply too small to make an impact.

“At the time, one litre was roughly equal to three bottles of the standard 33cl soft drink. Back then, each bottle sold for about N150. So, N10 per litre translated to just about N3 extra per bottle — barely noticeable to consumers and certainly not enough to change buying habits.

“Today, that same 33cl bottle often sells for N300 or more, yet the tax is still stuck at N10 per litre — still just N3 per bottle.

“This token amount does not push consumers to reconsider their choices, nor does it pressure companies to reformulate the sugar content in their products. In fact, it is a drop in the ocean compared to the tidal wave of health impacts sugary drinks are causing in our society.”

Oluwafemi said research had shown that an increase of the SSB tax to at least N130 per litre remained the effective threshold on sugary drinks for Nigeria.

While quoting a World Health Organisation (WHO) report, he said an SSB tax that causes at least a 20 per cent increase in the retail prices of sugary drinks lead to a proportional reduction in consumption.

“Raising the tax to N130 per litre would bring Nigeria in line with global recommendations and, more importantly, deliver real public health gains. Of course, such a bold policy will not come without opposition.

“We must remember that public health is a human right, not a privilege to be negotiated with corporate interests. Nigerians deserve policies that protect their health, not appease multinationals.

“This is where you, our esteemed journalists, come in.

“Your voice can either amplify the truth or echo industry propaganda. You have the power to:

“Inform the public about the devastating health impacts of sugary drink overconsumption.

“Hold policymakers accountable for delaying or watering down lifesaving interventions.

“Investigate the covert tactics of industry misinformation, scaremongering and lobbying.

“And shine a light on the communities most affected by diet-related diseases.”