Youth Group Urges Minister To Support Higher Sugar Tax
By Abubakar Ojima-Ojo, Abuja
A Nigerian youth advocacy group has called on the Minister of Youth Development, Comrade Ayodele Olawande, to support an increase in the tax on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) from ₦10 to ₦130 per litre to combat rising health issues linked to sugary drinks.
The Healthy Food Policy Youth Vanguard (HFPYV), a coalition of young public health and food justice advocates, said the higher tax would help reduce consumption and generate revenue to strengthen the country’s healthcare system.
In a statement issued after its meeting with the minister, the group warned that the sugary drinks industry is aggressively marketing unhealthy products to Nigeria’s youth, leading to a surge in non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer.
HFPYV cited alarming statistics showing that NCDs are responsible for nearly 30% of annual deaths in Nigeria. The group also highlighted the financial burden on families, with Nigerian households reportedly spending an average of $398.52 per year on NCD treatment.
The statement added that excessive consumption of sugary drinks is eroding traditional dietary habits, with many young people no longer familiar with the preparation of indigenous, healthier meals.
The group stressed that the Ministry of Youth Development, as the lead government agency for empowering young Nigerians, must take urgent steps to shield them from unhealthy food choices.
It urged the government to strengthen the SSB tax policy, which was introduced in the 2021 Finance Act. The current ₦10 levy per litre, it argued, is no longer effective in curbing consumption, as the price of soft drinks has significantly increased since the tax was first implemented.
A 2024 study endorsed by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare recommended raising the tax to at least ₦130 per litre or 20% of the product’s retail price. The report projected that such an increase could generate about ₦729 billion in additional revenue, which could be reinvested in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
The group also referenced global experts, including Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, who recently advocated for a minimum 50% tax rate on unhealthy foods. The Bloomberg Task Force on Fiscal Policy for Health has also recommended that revenue from such taxes be allocated to healthcare.
