The Healthy Food Policy Youth Vanguard (HFPYV) has called on the Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, to support increasing the tax on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) from N10 per litre to N130 per litre, emphasizing the urgent need to protect public health, particularly among Nigeria’s youth.
The group warned that the sugary drinks industry, driven by profit motives, aggressively markets unhealthy products to young Nigerians, using misleading advertising to shape harmful dietary habits.
HFPYV stressed the Minister’s involvement is crucial in strengthening the SSB tax, introduced in 2021 under the Finance Act, as the current N10 per litre levy on carbonated and non-alcoholic drinks is inadequate and ineffective in curbing excessive consumption.
The group cited a recent study endorsed by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, noting that when the levy was introduced, a bottle of soft drink cost around N150 while today, prices have surged to between N350 and N450, yet the tax remains unchanged.
Read Also: Tinubu congratulates Bishop Oke on re-election as PFN president
According to the advocates, the study recommended raising the SSB tax to N130 per litre or at least 20 percent of the retail price to ensure a meaningful reduction in sugar consumption.
HFPYV, a volunteer group advocating for food justice and public health, described the SSB tax as a pro-people policy designed to shield young Nigerians from the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) linked to excessive sugar consumption.
In a statement by Afeez Adebayo on Thursday, after a meeting with the Minister, HFPYV stressed that the Ministry of Youth Development must play a leading role in addressing this threat.
The group highlighted that young Nigerians are being targeted with ultra-processed foods and beverages high in sugar and sodium, contributing to rising cases of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses that account for nearly 30 percent of all deaths in Nigeria annually.
Adebayo explained that experts have warned that traditional Nigerian diets, which are typically healthier, are being abandoned as more young people embrace processed foods, lamenting that the shift not only impacts health but also threatens food security, as many young Nigerians no longer engage in growing or preparing local, nutritious foods.
The group pointed out the devastating economic impact of unhealthy diets, noting that beyond the loss of human capital due to chronic illnesses, Nigerian households spend significant amounts on healthcare.
Adebayo cited the latest National Health Accounts data, showing that a household with an NCD patient spends an average of $398.52 per year on treatment, adding that nationally, Nigerians spend around $1.26 billion annually on managing NCDs, pushing many families into financial hardship.
These figures, he said, are especially concerning given Nigeria’s youthful population. With about 70 percent of Nigerians under 30 and 42 percent under 15, the country has one of the world’s largest youth populations.
HFPYV argued that this demographic advantage should not be exploited by corporate interests prioritizing profit over public health. Instead, the government must take decisive action to protect young Nigerians from dietary-related diseases.
According to him, beyond discouraging excessive intake, such a tax increase could generate approximately N729 billion in additional government revenue, which could be earmarked to strengthen Nigeria’s underfunded healthcare system, particularly in addressing diet-related diseases.
Adebayo noted that global health experts have echoed the same recommendations, adding that the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, has backed a minimum 50 percent tax rate on unhealthy foods, including SSBs, as such measures could prevent over 50 million premature deaths worldwide over the next five decades.
In addition, he cited the Bloomberg Task Force on Fiscal Policy for Health’s recommendation that revenue from these taxes be reinvested into the healthcare system.
Given these findings, HFPYV urged the Minister to champion the tax hike as a policy that aligns with his mandate to safeguard the well-being of young Nigerians.
By supporting this initiative, the Ministry of Youth Development can play a critical role in shaping a healthier future for Nigeria’s youth, reducing the burden of NCDs, and ensuring that government policies prioritize public health over corporate profits, Adebayo added.