A medical expert on Tuesday blamed the rising cases of diabetes among Nigerians on high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), saying Nigeria is one of the highest consumers of sugar-sweetened beverages in Africa.

The Commissioner of Health, Imo State, Prof. Michael Ubaka, made the disclosure while delivering the Igbinedion University Okada (IUO) College of Pharmacy annual lecture series titled, “Sip Smart, Live Long: Why Taxing Sugary Drinks Makes Sense.”

Ubaka warned about the dangers of sugar-sweetened beverages and urged the government to consider an increase in SSB tax, which he described as a critical global public health policy needed in the country.

He added that an increased tax on sugar-sweetened beverages is key to checking consumption patterns and that SSB taxes should target drinks high in sugar content, such as soda or soft drinks, energy drinks and sports drinks.

Ubaka said over 40 per cent of Nigerians are suffering from diabetes, noting that the cost of treating diabetes is alarming due to the rising healthcare costs in the country.

He lamented that Nigerians could easily attribute the high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages to addiction and expressed concern about the need to raise public awareness of its public health implications.

Ubaka said that to discourage the high consumption of SSBs among Nigerians, the government should drive a tax reform on sugary drinks, noting that diabetes as an ailment is not curable but only manageable.

“The core objectives of the SSB tax are to increase the retail price of sugar-sweetened beverages, reduce their purchase and consumption, and raise public awareness of their public health implications,” Ubaka said.

The Imo State Health Commissioner added that the government should move to reduce free sugar intake and incentivize behavioural change by taxing sugar-sweetened beverages to check the unhealthy products Nigerians are consuming.

Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of Igbinedion University Okada, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, described the lecture as apt, stressing the need to interrogate strategies for improving public health, reducing healthcare costs, and generating revenue for governments.