The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has raised alarm over the rising public health burden posed by non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Nigeria, linking approximately 30% of annual deaths to factors including the excessive intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and ultra-processed foods.
Speaking at a two-day journalism training on SSB Tax and Industry Monitoring in Kano, CAPPA’s Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, described the situation as an escalating health crisis driven by corporate marketing targeting children and young adults. “Ultra-processed food corporations are using sophisticated marketing tactics to hook Nigerians on unhealthy diets, contributing massively to the NCD crisis while draining both household and national healthcare resources,” Oluwafemi said.
He highlighted the SSB tax introduced in 2021, which imposes a ₦10 per litre levy on non-alcoholic sweetened beverages, as a step in the right direction. However, he criticised the low tax rate, industry misinformation, and lack of accountability in the use of tax revenues, arguing that these factors have weakened the policy’s impact.
The training aims to equip journalists to better report on public health concerns, the burden of NCDs, and hold industries and policymakers accountable. Also speaking at the event, Dr. Ekiyor Joseph and Dr. Oluwatosin Edafe called for a 40% increase in the SSB tax, recommending that funds generated be reinvested into Nigeria’s health sector to address the consequences of sugar-related illnesses.
