The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, CAPPA has told the Nigerian government to place additional tax on sweetened beverages.
Robert Egbe, Media and Communications Officer of CAPPA disclosed this in a statement on Friday commemorating this year’s World Food Safety Day.
Speaking on the 2024 World Food Safety theme “Food safety: prepare for the unexpected,” CAPPA urged the Nigerian government at all levels to prioritize effective food policies and food security in the interest of public health.
It stated that the overconsumption of salt and sugar has been linked to the growth of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases worldwide.
CAPPA urged that Nigerians should be kind to themselves by prioritizing their health and eating to live, not to die.
“Many Nigerians and local farmers are still unable to earn a livelihood from farming and thus improve the food supply chain due to unending armed conflicts and the varied impacts of climate change. This terrible situation has worsened food shortages, hunger pangs, and inflation across the country.
“In particular, the overconsumption of salt and sugar has been linked to the growth of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases worldwide and in Nigeria, causing both economic and social strains.
“CAPPA urges the government to reverse this negative trend by implementing food strategies and policies that promote access to healthier diets and spur producers to reformulate comestibles for the betterment of public health.
“Most importantly, we encourage the government to, among other viable measures, increase the tax on sugar-sweetened beverages as well as set mandatory salt limits in food products to protect Nigerians from excessive consumption and tackle the alarming rise of obesity cases and NCDs in the country.
“These actions, proven effective globally, can help Nigeria bolster national food safety and public wellbeing.
“Above all, we ask Nigerians to be kind to themselves by prioritizing their health and eating to live, not to die. People must watch their food consumption patterns, making sure to consciously desist from the excessive consumption of sugar, salt, and fat, which is associated with an increased risk of non-communicable diseases,” the statement concluded.
The development comes after the Nigerian government introduced a 6.7 percent (10 Naira per litre) excise tax on “non-alcoholic, carbonated, and sweetened beverages as part of its action against sugar consumption.
Why Nigerian govt should place additional tax on sweetened beverages – CAPPA
