The federal authorities has described the tax on sugar-sweetened drinks (SSBs) as the simplest strategy to scale back extreme consumption of SSBs and the incidence of non-communicable illnesses (NCDs).
Dr. Chukuma Anyaike, Director, Division of Public Well being, Federal Ministry of Well being and Social Affairs, stated this on Monday in Abuja through the public presentation of the simulation research of the potential fiscal and public well being impacts of SSB tax in Nigeria.
Anyaike defines sugar-sweetened drinks as drinks that include pure or added sweeteners, together with numerous types of sugars, reminiscent of brown sugar, corn sweetener, corn syrup, dextrose, fructose, glucose, excessive fructose corn syrup, honey, lactose, malt syrup, maltose, molasses, crude sugar and sucrose.
He stated these drinks additionally embody comfortable drinks, juices, sweetened espresso, nectars, vitality drinks and flavored dairy merchandise.
“Common consumption of SSB is related to an elevated incidence of tooth decay, tooth decay and weight problems.
“Weight problems, in flip, is a threat issue for the event of diabetes mellitus kind 2, coronary heart illness, stroke and hypertension. SSB consumption has additionally been linked to some cancers.
“The imposition of an SSB tax has been recognized as the simplest strategy to scale back the consumption of extra sugar-sweetened drinks, thereby lowering the incidence and prevalence of NCDs.
“To this finish, the federal government has launched an excise tax of N10 per liter on all sweetened drinks within the Finance Invoice 2021.
“It is a step in the suitable course in direction of attaining world finest follow of a minimal of 20 % of the ultimate retail value for all SSB merchandise.
“The income generated can be earmarked for public well being interventions for the prevention and management of non-communicable illnesses,” the director of public well being stated.
In response to him, an estimated 38.6 million liters of soppy drinks are offered in Nigeria every single day, making the nation the fourth highest comfortable drink consumption nation on the earth.
“The drinks are marketed in such a method that prospects assume they’re getting extra worth in the event that they purchase the most important bottles of soppy drinks, which ends up in overconsumption.
“Of explicit concern is the development of overconsumption amongst Nigerian adolescents, which might result in childhood weight problems and adverse well being penalties in maturity.
“Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiovascular illnesses and different non-communicable illnesses are the main causes of demise worldwide and account for a major proportion of deaths in Nigeria,” Anyaike stated.
He stated NCDs have an effect on the extremely productive inhabitants teams, thereby posing a grave hazard to the bodily and psychological well-being of residents, the healthcare system and socio-economic growth, thus undermining nationwide growth.
In response to him, Nigeria loses some huge cash yearly because of lack of productiveness because of NCD and prices are incurred for the remedy and administration of those power illnesses.
He expressed hope that the findings of the simulation research would assist scale back SSB consumption.
He added that the research would enhance public well being consciousness, public well being funding and price range allocation for non-communicable illnesses, and make a concerted effort for the efficient management of non-communicable illnesses within the nation .
Earlier, Mr Akinbode Oluwafemi, Govt Director of Company Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) known as for N130 per liter excise responsibility on all sweetened drinks within the Fiscal Act 2024.
In response to Oluwafemi, the SSB tax needs to be considerably elevated within the 2024 Tax Act, with a framework that’s adjustable to inflation, as we additionally begin the dialog on earmarking the tax or a good portion of it for public well being.
“With the presentation of a simulation research, Nigerians will see a major decline in consumption and a lower in consumption-related illnesses in Nigeria.
“I’m additional satisfied that this doc offers the federal government, together with the manager and legislatures, with the much-needed information to pursue this coverage path to its logical conclusion for the good thing about all.
“Our honest thanks go to the Heart for the Research of Economics of Africa (CSEA) for finishing up such top quality {and professional} work.
“And to the financial groups within the nation and throughout the worldwide group who additionally assisted within the assessments and offered enter right here and there,” CAPPA chief stated.