The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation in Africa (CAPPA) has called for a raise in the sugar-sweetened beverage tax (SSB tax) to 20 percent, with the generated revenue earmarked for improved funding of Nigeria’s health sector and the enhancement of nutrition among the disadvantaged.
During a press briefing in Abuja, CAPPA Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, emphasized that manufacturers of these unhealthy products, including the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, the organized private sector, and unnamed groups, have been employing various tactics to pressure the government through misinformation campaigns and threats.
He stated, “Having consulted across regions of the country, we assert unequivocally that the current tax of #10 per liter is insignificant as it has been absorbed by the industry.
“To achieve the desired impact of reducing consumption and lowering non-communicable diseases (NCDs), the tax should be immediately raised to a minimum of 20% of the final retail price of SSBs.”
“Rather than yielding to the producers of SSBs, the federal government should initiate a legislative process to ensure the sustainability of the tax, which can be adjusted for inflation and include provisions for earmarking.”
“The government’s fundamental duty to safeguard the public remains paramount, and the current administration must honor this social contract. All other SSBs not covered under the existing tax framework should also be encompassed.”
“In good faith, the government should start transparently accounting for the taxes collected and provide a breakdown of its expenditures.”
