In light of Nigeria’s rising diabetes rates, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, has called for greater support of the Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSB) tax to curb escalating health costs and the diabetes epidemic.
Speaking through the Director of Food and Drug Services, Mrs. Olubunmi Aribeana, at the 2024 Conference on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Tax in Abuja, Pate highlighted alarming statistics on diabetes in Nigeria and the urgent need to tackle it.
With over 3.6 million Nigerians diagnosed with diabetes in 2021, and a projected rise to five million by 2030, Pate emphasized that over half of these cases remain undiagnosed, increasing risks and compounding healthcare challenges.
“The cost of treating diabetes per person has skyrocketed from an average of N60,000 in 2011 to N800,000 in 2021 and is projected to exceed N1 million by 2030,” he said. The conference, organized by the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), carried the theme “Health Tax as a Recipe for Improved Healthcare Financing,” underscoring the economic pressures of treating lifestyle-related diseases.
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According to the minister, the SSB tax is a vital tool to deter excessive sugar consumption, generate revenue for healthcare, and fund preventative measures for non-communicable diseases like diabetes and obesity.
“This tax not only discourages sugar consumption but also generates essential revenue that can be reinvested into healthcare initiatives,” he added, noting that the approach aligns with the 2023 National Policy on Food Safety and Quality. This policy prioritizes healthier food choices and promotes reducing sugar, alcohol, and sodium consumption while eliminating trans-fatty acids from Nigerian diets.
Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director of CAPPA, spoke on behalf of the National Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Tax Coalition (NSSBTC), shedding light on Nigeria’s excessive consumption of sugary drinks—exceeding 40 million liters annually—and the toll it takes on families and the healthcare system.
“Nigeria’s SSB consumption contributes to an estimated $2.37 billion in annual societal costs for managing obesity, with informal care costs surpassing N58 million,” he explained, adding that SSB producers have been slow to address their impact on public health.
In a recent example, a major SSB manufacturer’s $1 billion investment pledge to Nigeria went unfulfilled since it was first promised to the Buhari administration three years ago. “Instead, the company cited a ‘challenging business environment,’ failing to honor its commitment even as the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission held it accountable for deceptive trade practices,” said Oluwafemi, expressing concern about the disconnect between these pledges and tangible outcomes.
The Director of Food and Drug Services, Mrs. Aribeana, also reiterated the importance of promoting healthy diets as a preventive health strategy, calling it a cornerstone of the National Policy on Food Safety and Quality. “We are committed to public health, envisioning a Nigeria where healthier food options are accessible to every citizen, reducing diet-related disease burdens,” she affirmed.
With the diabetes crisis intensifying and healthcare costs mounting, Nigerian health authorities are pressing for strengthened support for the SSB tax, highlighting its potential as a sustainable solution for a healthier, more economically resilient Nigeria.
