By Toyin Victor, ABUJA
A healthy food policy advocate with Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, CAPPA, Robert Egbe, has called for a stronger tax on sugar-sweetened beverages, SSBs, as part of efforts to tackle Nigeria’s growing burden of non-communicable diseases.
Egbe, in an opinion article, cited the case of a nine year old girl in Enugu who was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus after developing excessive thirst, frequent urination, weight loss and increased appetite.
He, however, clarified that the child’s condition was not attributed to her diet, noting that unhealthy diets, particularly ultra-processed foods and sugar-sweetened beverages, are recognised risk factors for several non-communicable diseases, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and some cancers.
According to Egbe, non-communicable diseases account for about 28 per cent of annual deaths in Nigeria, while high out of pocket healthcare spending continues to place additional financial pressure on families.
He argued that the N10 per litre excise duty on sugar-sweetened beverages introduced through the 2021 Finance Act has been too low to significantly discourage consumption or encourage manufacturers to reformulate their products.
Egbe noted that the National Assembly has proposed replacing the fixed levy with a value-based, ad valorem tax linked to the retail price of sugary drinks. The Senate passed the amendment on June 4, 2026, and the bill is awaiting concurrence by the House of Representatives before presidential assent.
He dismissed concerns that a stronger SSB tax would unfairly hurt consumers and manufacturers, arguing that Nigerians already bear the economic cost of preventable diseases through medical bills, lost productivity and reduced household income.
Egbe also called for part of the revenue from the tax to be directed towards public-health interventions, alongside measures such as front of pack nutrition labelling, mandatory sodium reduction and restrictions on unhealthy food marketing.
He maintained that the CETA amendment presents Nigeria with an opportunity to prioritise disease prevention, reduce sugary-drink consumption and strengthen health promotion, describing the proposed tax as an investment in a healthier and more productive population.