Stakeholders Back Senate Sugar Tax Bill, Say It Will Save Lives

Stakeholders under the umbrella of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) have applauded the Senate for passing a bill seeking to reform Nigeria’s tax regime on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs). They described the legislative action as a significant step towards tackling the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the country.

The bill proposes replacing the current N10-per-litre excise duty on sugar-sweetened beverages with a percentage-based levy linked to retail prices.

It also seeks to earmark part of the revenue generated for health promotion and disease prevention programmes.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, CAPPA’s executive director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, commended the Senate for its bold and timely intervention aimed at protecting public health.

He also praised the sponsor of the bill, Ipalibo Banigo, for championing policies focused on improving the health and well-being of Nigerians.

According to CAPPA, the passage of the bill demonstrates the Senate’s responsiveness to Nigeria’s growing public health challenges, adding that it should be followed by swift legislative action to ensure the proposal becomes law.

The group noted that Banigo had earlier played a key role in the passage of the National Health Act Amendment Bill in April 2026, which increased funding for the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund from one per cent to two per cent of the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

CAPPA said that dedicating part of the proposed SSB tax revenue to health programmes would provide additional resources for improving national health outcomes and strengthening preventive healthcare services.

The advocacy group stressed that the need for the reform is urgent, citing the rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, obesity and dental conditions.

It claimed that nearly one in three deaths in Nigeria is linked to NCDs, while more than 11 million Nigerians are now living with diabetes, placing increasing pressure on families and the healthcare system.

CAPPA said excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages remains a major contributor to the crisis, particularly among young people who are exposed to aggressive marketing by beverage manufacturers.

It maintained that the current N10-per-litre tax introduced under the Finance Act has not been sufficient to influence consumer behaviour or produce meaningful public health benefits.

CAPPA explained that adopting a price-based, or ad valorem, tax system aligns with global best practices recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO), which advocates health taxes that significantly increase retail prices to discourage unhealthy consumption.