Francis Fagbule: Nigeria Should Increase Sweetened Beverage Tax to Significantly Reduce Sugar Consumption

Public health expert, Dr. Francis Fagbule has called on the Nigerian government to significantly increase the 2021 Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) tax to curb it’s habitual consumption and address rising health concerns.

The lecturer at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, said this while speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Thursday about the current SSB tax rate.

Fagbule stated, “The government should increase the 2021 SSB tax such that it would lead to a reduction in consumption because currently we are not having it.”

 He emphasised the urgent need for this measure due to the significant health issues associated with SSBs, including obesity, diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and even certain types of cancer which he said are high in calories but offer no nutritional value.

“SSBs contain a high level of calories and do not add to the nutrition in your body. From evidence, they contribute significantly to adverse health effects,” he said.

Highlighting the affordability of these beverages as a major factor in their high consumption rates across all economic classes in Nigeria, he noted, “Statistics show that those in the low economy compared with those in the high class have the same level of consumption, which means that everybody can afford it. This widespread affordability exacerbates the health crisis, particularly among poorer populations who may struggle to afford medical treatments for conditions caused by excessive SSB consumption.”

Fagbule also addressed the misleading arguments from the beverage industry regarding job losses due to increased taxes. “When they say people are going to lose their jobs, ask them how many people they even employ. Retailers are not tied to a product. The argument on the basis that people will lose their jobs are the usual cries, but the government has a duty,” he asserted.

Further speaking on the insufficiency of the current tax rate of N10 per liter, he said, “N10 per liter means that an average bottle of soft drinks 50cl is half a liter, currently that goes for around N400, so if it’s N10 per liter, it means that on that 50cl bottle, you are adding N5. What is the significant effect of adding N5 on N400?” he questioned, underscoring the need for a more impactful tax increase.

Fagbule also called for the government to reinvest the revenue from the SSB tax back into the economy, particularly in public health initiatives. “What we need to emphasise to the government is that whatever they are getting from this taxation should be ploughed back into the economy because that will be the indication that they are interested in the health of the people,” he said.

He reiterated the role of the SSB tax in discouraging habitual consumption of sugary drinks. “The single most effective way is the SSB tax. We are not saying people should stop taking SSBs. What we are saying is that they should be discouraged from habitual consumption,” he affirmed.

Urging Nigerian manufacturers to produce healthier alternatives, following the example of other countries like the UK and South Africa, he concluded, “Nigerian manufacturers should come up with other products that are healthier. People are buying them and they are making a profit.”

NANCY MBAMALU 

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