Euphemia Ojukwu
With the upsurge in cases of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes in recent years, beverage manufacturing companies in Nigeria have been called upon to key into the sugar reduction campaign to increase awareness about healthy consumption.
Comrade Bernard Enyia, 2nd vice president of the Diabetes Association of Nigeria, who made the call said diseases like obesity and diabetes which are also risk factors for other health problems like renal failure and stroke, are linked to high sugar consumption.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelHe spoke at Prime Business Africa’s Health and Business Series (4) organised via X Space hosted by Dr Marcel Mbamalu, publisher and Editor-in-chief, on Sunday 4th August 2024.
Enyia said Manufacturers of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) have not been providing adequate information about contents in their products, especially the amount of sugar.
He said the companies should be creating awareness about the health implications of excessive sugar intake by consumers.
He maintained such approach would boost the drive to entrench a culture healthy consumption.
READ ALSO: Expert Decries Poor Regulation Of Sugar In Beverage Products In Nigeria
Enyia, who is also Co-chair, National Action on Sugar Reduction, also called for reinstatement of sugar tax which was recently suspended by the Nigerian government.
He explained that with the removal of sugar tax, these beverages would be sold at cheaper rates, which means it would be easily accessible to anyone.
The 10 Naira (US$0.02) per liter tax on all SSBs as provided for in the 2021 Finance Act, was suspended by the Nigerian government recently. Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, who explained that it is a temporary relief to manufacturers, said it will be reintroduced once the economy stabilizes. The sugar tax was implemented in order to reduce the consumption of sugar contents which will in turn address the increasing levels of obesity and other diseases in the country, and also generate revenue for the government to fund health interventions.
As someone living with Diabetes Type 2, and an Diabetes awareness advocate, he recalled the mistakes he made due to lack of proper information that can be repeated by other people, if the right policies are not made.
READ ALSO: Sugar Tax Removal: Economic Gains Versus Health Implications
He also called on the government to reconsider its health policy intervention, particularly at it relates to those living with diabetes.
Debating on the topic “Sugar Tax Removal: Your Health or Your Wealth?,” at the Prime Business Africa Health and Business Series, another guest speaker, Dr Muda Yusuf, the Chief Executive Officer, Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE), opposed the idea that sugar tax removal could be a hindrance to the government’s ability to generate revenue for health interventions.
He said: “It is not the instrumentality of taxing manufacturers that would solve this problem. If the issue is about revenue, we can talk about proper budgeting by the government. We should advocate to strengthen budget spending…Many of the manufacturers are declaring losses, heavy losses…, and that is why the Minister suspended the tax in the meantime.”
However, Dr. Yusuf agreed that there is a need to strengthen the regulatory framework and be more focused on public health issues, while also considering the economic implications of sugar tax on manufacturers as well as the country as a whole.
