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Tag: sugary drinks

  • Finance minister indicates interest in reviewing sugary drinks policy

    Finance minister indicates interest in reviewing sugary drinks policy

    Advocates for raising the tax on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) from N10 per litre have gained a key supporter in Finance Minister, Wale Edun, who voiced his backing for the tax on Wednesday, July 17.

    Edun, who demonstrated a strong understanding of the health and environmental impacts associated with sugary drinks, expressed his support in principle and showed keen interest in receiving additional, locally contextual data to explore the potential benefits of increasing SSB taxes.

    This development came during a courtesy visit to the Minister’s office by members of the National Action on Sugar Reduction Coalition (NASR) and Gatefield, a public strategy firm.

    Edun reaffirmed his commitment to revisit the topic for future policy decisions, including potential tax adjustments.

    In a statement by Omei Bongos-Ikwue, Gatefield Health Communications Specialist and NASR representative, the Minister revealed the government’s plan to suspend the implementation of the law as part of a sweeping policy push to tame inflation in the country.

    The minister emphasised the country’s need for the revenue while adding that the suspension would be a temporary measure.

    While acknowledging that though beverage companies create jobs, Edun pointed out that the excessive consumption of their products due to low taxes has negative consequences for both health and the environment.

    He also reiterated the government’s commitment to rejuvenating the economy adding that the 6-month economic stabilization plan also aims to keep beverage companies from going under and giving citizens a temporary relief.

    “The Ministry is not in favour of companies that sell unhealthy products, but the overriding situation in Nigeria is that we need to help people cope with the cost-of-living spike,” he noted.

    Comparing the arguments against the SSB tax to the tobacco taxation arguments made in the past, Edun reiterated that the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, under Dr Ali Pate, is doing its best to bring down the cost of drugs and pharmaceuticals.

    He, however, encouraged the coalition to continue to generate data-driven analyses and information for public dissemination, underscoring the importance of addressing rising healthcare costs.

    Earlier, Shirley Ewang, the Advocacy Lead at Gatefield, while informing the Minister that taxing sugary drinks is urgently needed, stressed that it is not only for its revenue generation potential but also for its potential to reduce the burden of diseases such as heart disease, certain cancers, and type 2 diabetes.

    Saying that research has shown a clear link between sugary drink consumption and an increased risk of these diseases, Ewang implored the Minister to initiate a mechanism that must require the manufacturing industry to present their own data and profit reports to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

    This, according to the Coalition will help the government in making a balanced policy decision considering that the sugary drinks industry arguments have not changed and have always argued that taxes will lead to job losses.

    Read Also: Group faults report on sugary drinks tax

    On his part, Bernard Enyia, Vice president of the Diabetes Association of Nigeria and co-chair of the NASR coalition, lamented the cost of insulin and diabetes care that have doubled due to the prevailing global economic downturn.

    “As the face of people living with diabetes in Nigeria, I can tell you that we are afraid to die,” he said.

    Echoing the same sentiment, a coalition cancer survivor, Gloria Okwu, regretted that “people living with chronic illness face astronomical healthcare costs, in addition to the lost hours of productivity from hospital visits.”

  • Coalition introduces innovative bus campaign against sugary drinks

    Coalition introduces innovative bus campaign against sugary drinks

    The National Action on Sugar Reduction (NASR) has launched a branded bus campaign in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to raise awareness about the health risks associated with consuming sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and the need for increased taxes on the products.

    The campaign features buses wrapped in eye-catching imagery depicting individuals struggling with diabetes, highlighting the direct link between sugary drink consumption and health challenges.

    Through creative messaging and community engagement, the coalition aims to capture public attention and mobilize support for higher SSB taxes, persisting in its efforts to drive home the importance of this public health issue.

    Given the alarming situation whereby the country is grappling with an estimated 11.2 million Nigerians living with type 2 diabetes and a rising incidence of heart disease, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) pose a significant threat, accounting for one in three deaths in the country, the coalition noted that the country’s policymakers cannot afford to be complacent about the dangers posed by SSBs to its large population.

    According to Omei Bongos Ikwue, the spokesperson for the NASR coalition in a statement on Wednesday, the campaign seeks to raise public awareness of the health risks associated with SSB consumption, mobilize support for increasing the sugary drinks tax, and promote healthier lifestyles.

    She also noted that the campaign’s public engagement component features volunteer-led activities designed to educate communities about the harmful effects of sugary drinks, particularly their link to diseases like diabetes, and inspire individuals to make informed choices.

    The NASR coalition highlights that research has demonstrated that reducing sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption can prevent the onset of diseases like type 2 diabetes.

    Gloria Okwu, a NASR coalition member, while highlighting the essence of the innovation said, “Our objective with this campaign is to enlighten the public about the perils of excessive SSB consumption and advocate for policies that promote healthier alternatives.\

    Read Also: Group faults report on sugary drinks tax

    “With an estimated 11.2 million Nigerians living with type 2 diabetes and a rising incidence of heart disease, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for one in three deaths in the country.

    “Implementing higher taxes on sugary drinks will undoubtedly save and safeguard lives.”

    According to the NASR coalition, research has shown that reducing SSB consumption can prevent the onset of diseases like type 2 diabetes.

    Moreover, the coalition points out that many countries have successfully reduced SSB consumption by introducing taxes that discourage their purchase and consumption, leading to a decline in related health issues.

    As part of the campaign, the coalition offered complimentary bus rides to the public along Maraba, Nyanyan, and other routes in Abuja, to further amplify their message and engage the community in this important public health initiative.

  • NASR coalition intensifies sugary drinks tax hike with PSA

    NASR coalition intensifies sugary drinks tax hike with PSA

    With over 11 million Nigerians grappling with type 2 diabetes and facing challenges in accessing essential medication, the National Action on Sugar Reduction (NASR) coalition is initiating a public service announcement (PSA) advocating for the Nigerian government to raise taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs).

    Since 2018, Nigeria has implemented a tax of N10 per litre on SSBs but the coalition is advocating for a N130 per litre tax on sugared drinks.

    Omei Bongos, spokesperson of the NASR coalition, said the PSA becomes imperative considering that Nigeria is currently one of the largest consumers of soft drinks in Africa and ranks seventh globally.

    In a statement released on Wednesday, Bongos emphasized that the advocacy campaign is a crucial component of the ongoing efforts to address the escalating rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes in Nigeria.

    The campaign specifically targets the Nigerian government, urging them to raise taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages.

    Read Also: Coalition: Taxing sugary drinks will save Nigerians from obesity

    She said the primary goal of the PSA is to enlighten Nigerians about the detrimental impacts of consuming such beverages, as they significantly contribute to obesity and various non-communicable diseases.

    “With more than 11 million Nigerians suffering from type 2 diabetes and struggling to afford necessary medication, this campaign highlights the urgent need for policymakers to take action.

    “Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is not just a personal choice; it has far-reaching consequences on public health.

    “By increasing the SSB tax, we can reduce consumption and ultimately save lives. The current tax rate of 10 naira per litre falls below World Health Organization recommendations and is ineffective in curbing consumption.

    “This PSA serves as a call-to-action for government officials to prioritize public health by implementing policies that will protect citizens from preventable diseases associated with excessive sugar intake”, Bongos noted.

  • World Obesity Day: Increase tax on sugary drinks, NASR coalition tells FG

    World Obesity Day: Increase tax on sugary drinks, NASR coalition tells FG

    The National Action on Sugar Reduction (NASR) coalition has called on the federal government to promptly increase the tax on heavily sugared drinks, commonly referred to as sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) to a prohibitive level.

    According to a report, 60 million people (30 percent) out of Nigeria’s 200 million population are classified as overweight while 15 percent as obese. 

    The group noted that the current tax of N10 per litre on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), implemented with the Finance Act of 2021, is no longer sufficient to reduce the excessive consumption of soft drinks, malt beverages, and other sugary drinks that significantly contribute to preventable, life-threatening chronic diseases.

    The coalition is advocating for a N130 per litre tax on the SSBs.

    While addressing a rally in Abuja at Jabi Lake Park neighbourhood to commemorate the 2024 World Obesity Day on Saturday, NASR coalition’s Health Communications Specialist, Omei Bongos-Ikwue said: “We urge the government to implement higher taxes on sugary drinks.

    “The goal of this pro-health tax is to protect more Nigerians from the risks of obesity, alleviate the burden on the healthcare system, and promote a healthier society.”

    She emphasized that Nigerian policymakers should consider the World Health Organization’s (WHO) warnings about the widespread obesity crisis affecting over 1 billion people globally.

    Read Also: Fed Govt urged to hike sugary drinks tax to N130 per litre

    Pointing out that excessive caloric intake, primarily from SSBs, significantly contributes to obesity, posing a major health threat, she said: “Presently, one in eight people worldwide grapples with obesity, with alarming statistics revealing that 30% of Nigerians are overweight and 15% are classified as obese.

    “Scientifically linked to abdominal obesity, SSBs are identified as a key driver of cardiometabolic diseases, including heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes.

    “What we are advocating for is that the Government should not shirk its responsibility on this by helping Nigerians to control the consumption of these beverages through tax.

    “Looking at the cost of the life-threatening diseases attached to the SSBs, we all know that our economy is already stressed and things are tough, it is only proper that we don’t willfully contribute to our economic strains by contracting these avoidable life-threatening diseases through excessive consumption of SSBs.

    “Diabetes is not like malaria that can be treated and in few is gone, treating diabetes is stressful as patients keep buying drugs, every day, every month and making hard choices between paying certain bills and buying the drugs

    “This has actually pushed families into poverty because of the cost of containing these chronic diseases”.

    She also advised parents to desist from encouraging children to form the habit of preferring SSBs to water because of later life effects.

    “It’s a question of knowledge as well. Parents need to know that indulging their children with SSBs is not healthy because they are more likely to develop the habit of a taste for sugar.

    “When this happens, and growing up with the habit it will double their chances of getting diabetes when they get older.

    “The key message is that the sugary drinks tax should be increased to a level that makes it prohibitive to buy.

    “This is to a point when the cost of sugary beverages reaches a level where consumers question why they would spend so much on something that has a cheaper and healthier alternative.

    “In the long run, it is a win-win situation for the government that will have more revenue to deploy to other essential areas of governance and for a healthier population that will have funds to deploy to other pressing needs instead of managing chronic illnesses”, she added.

    The NASR coalition representative noted that World Obesity Day is marked every 4th of March globally but had to be moved to Saturday and to the neighbourhood to create the needed awareness.

    The rally featured an extensive awareness campaign, engaging choreography by volunteers, games, and informative factsheets aimed at enlightening the public.