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From Geoffrey Anyanwu, Enugu
A forum of stakeholders has called on the federal government not to succumb to blackmail of profiteers in Sugar Sweetened Beverages (SSBs), on the demand for increased tax on SSBs.
The stakeholders, who were in Enugu on a one-day Regional Stakeholders Forum on SSB Tax, convened by Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) and the National Sugar Sweetened Beverages (SSB) Tax Coalition with support from the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), noted that Nigeria is the largest consumer of SSBs in Africa, a development that has increased the risk of overweight and obesity in children, adolescents, and adults, Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), cardiovascular disease, cancer, renal problems and other Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) among its citizens.
The forum which had representatives of the Ministries of Health and Environment from Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo States as well as health experts, civil society organizations and the media in attendance, discussed the need to deepen conversations on improving public health through reduction in the consumption of SSBs and the need for a more sustainable tax regime on SSBs in Nigeria.
It therefore commended the federal government for retaining the N10 per litre of SSB tax in the Finance Act 2023 and urged it increase taxation on SSBs towards achieving a 20 per cent increase in the final retail price of targeted sugary drinks as recommended by WHO.
“The government of Nigeria must not allow itself to be blackmailed by profiteers who have no regard for the decency of human lives and only care about their returns on investment even if it means the health of Nigerians take a hit,” the stakeholders said.
The forum also recommended among other things, “Adequate and sustained collaboration by government at state and federal levels spearheaded by the Ministry of Health to engender public awareness on the health risks associated with SSB consumption and the benefits of the SSBs tax policy.
“That relevant stakeholders, including traditional institution, educational institutions, civil society organizations, the media, and healthcare providers, among others should be actively engaged and recruited into the campaign to address the SSB menace. They should also be at the fore of correcting industry misinformation on SSB tax. Local communities must not be left out of these processes.
“More exposure of the media to verifiable sources of information on SSB, SSB taxes and industry activities aimed at thwarting the regulation of their products.”
Declaring the forum open, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Enugu State, Dr. Ifeanyi Agujiobi, who represented his Commissioner said that the forum was timely in view of the dangers of SSBs to consumers in every part of the country.
Earlier in his welcome address, CAPPA Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi said that the Enugu forum was the fourth in the series, as similar convergences have held in Lagos representing the South West, Bayelsa in the South South region and Kaduna in the North West of Nigeria.
He stressed the need for a robust collaboration between the government and stakeholders to chart an effective policy pathway for public health.
