In a bid to combat the rising public health concerns associated with excessive sugar consumption, the Federal Ministry of Health has expressed commitment to increase the tax on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) from the current rate of 10 per cent to 20 per cent.
This significant step aims to promote healthy beverage choices, reduce the intake of processed sugars, soft drinks and contribute to a healthier future for citizens and generations to come.
By increasing the monetary burden on sugar-sweetened products, the Ministry further hopes to deter consumers from purchasing them and, instead, encourage healthier beverage alternatives.
The Director/Head, Public Health Department, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Chukwuma Anyaike, disclosed this at the Pro-Health Tax Policy Campaign on SSB, held at the Federal Ministries of Finance and Health respectively on Tuesday, in Abuja.
“Taxation on SSBS has been successfully implemented in countries like Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Portugal and so many others to reduce the consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks.
“The introduction and sustenance of the tax in Nigeria will also reduce excess consumption of SSBS and thus reduce the burden of NCDs. We are committed to attaining the global best practice of at least 20% of the final retail price on all SSBS as the current 10 naira per liter price fails to achieve that. This campaign aligns with other government efforts in improving the public health of the Nigerian populace to meet up with the global priority of significantly reducing NCDs”, she said.
On his part, a representative of the National Action and Sugar Reduction Coalition, NASR, Edozie Chukwuma, said the campaign aims to sensitize the general public, policymakers and concerned government authorities on the dangers associated with the consumption of SSB
He reiterated the need for the current administration to increase the SSB tax as part of an effort to discourage patronage of sweetened products.
