Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa has urged the Nigerian government to levy an extra tax on sugary beverages.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Media and Communications Officer of CAPPA, Robert Egbe on Friday in commemoration of this year’s World Food Safety Day, theme “Food safety: prepare for the unexpected,” according to Daily Post.
CAPPA called on the Nigerian government at all levels to pursue good food policies and food security for the sake of public health.
This follows the Nigerian government’s imposition of a 6.7% excise tax on “non-alcoholic, carbonated, and sweetened beverages’.
It noted that overconsumption of salt and sugar has been connected to the increase of noncommunicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases globally.
CAPPA asked Nigerians to be compassionate to themselves by putting their health first and being careful about their food intake.
The statement reads “Many Nigerians and local farmers are still unable to earn a livelihood from farming and thus improve the food supply chain due to unending armed conflicts and the varied impacts of climate change. This terrible situation has worsened food shortages, hunger pangs, and inflation across the country.
“In particular, the overconsumption of salt and sugar has been linked to the growth of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases worldwide and in Nigeria, causing both economic and social strains.
“CAPPA urges the government to reverse this negative trend by implementing food strategies and policies that promote access to healthier diets and spur producers to reformulate comestibles for the betterment of public health.
“Most importantly, we encourage the government to, among other viable measures, increase the tax on sugar-sweetened beverages as well as set mandatory salt limits in food products to protect Nigerians from excessive consumption and tackle the alarming rise of obesity cases and NCDs in the country.
“These actions, proven effective globally, can help Nigeria bolster national food safety and public wellbeing.
“Above all, we ask Nigerians to be kind to themselves by prioritizing their health and eating to live, not to die. People must watch their food consumption patterns, making sure to consciously desist from the excessive consumption of sugar, salt, and fat, which is associated with an increased risk of non-communicable diseases.”
