Ahead of the the Christmas and New Year celebration, the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has warned Nigerians against the indiscriminate consumption of sugar sweetened beverages (SSB).
CAPPA ‘s Executive Director, Mr Akinbode Oluwafemi at a press conference in Abuja reiterated the call for an upward review of the SSB tax from N10 to N40 per liter in view of the inflationary trend in the country.
Oluwafemi who spoke on behalf of the national coalition on SSB tax coalition argued that studies have shown that imposition of taxes would surely decrease consumption of sugary drinks , particularly among low income communities in the country.
He said it’s unfortunate that the manufacturing industry deliberately target children and youths using all manner of advertisement and social activities to convey the impression that the intake of SSB is a healthy habit.
“For years, the sugar-sweetened beverages industry has painted a picture of sugary drinks as Innocent pleasures. But behind the vibrant colours and catchy jingles lies a grim reality. SSBs are laden with empty calories, fuelling a pubic health crisis of diabetes, obesity, and heart disease,” he noted.
“The statistics are sobering: one in ten Nigerians now live with diabetes, placing a crippling burden on individuals and Nigeria healthcare system.
“The manufacturing industry actively targets children and youths, bombarding them with sugary advertising and social activities, normalizing unhealthy habits at a crucial stage in their development.
“This predatory marketing exploits the vulnerability of young minds, shaping preferences that echo for years. The consequences are far-reaching as diabetes and its complications steal years of healthy life, erode productivity, and strain resources, leaving families shattered and futures uncertain.
“Amidst the festive cheer, the SSB industry drowns out public health concerns with a deafening roar of misinformation. They blame personal responsibility. They ignore their aggressive marketing tactics that target the most vulnerable: children and low-income communities.
“While families come together for festive gatherings, the SSB industry feasts on obscene profits, built on the backs of collective health. These producers annually especially during festive seasons incorporate corporate activities like festivals, awards and sponsoring popular events, as a way of promoting their unhealthy products.
“The intense greenwashing including cleaning up of shoreline, provision of motorised borehole, different paid awards, and posturing as helpers of communities. They are cleaning the shoreline of plastic wastes they created, providing water for communities they have used up and contaminated their water. All these are done to distract the people from the health dangers they are inflicting on the population.”
