Nigeria's sugary drink crisis fuels N1.92 trillion healthcare burden annually

Nigeria is facing a growing public health crisis as rising rates of diabetes, stroke and heart disease strain the country’s resources. A new report warns that excessive sugary drink consumption is fuelling a 'ticking time bomb' of preventable illnesses, costing Nigerians an estimated N1.92 trillion each year in healthcare expenses. Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director of the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), has called for urgent action to tackle the problem. He urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to strengthen the current Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) tax, which stands at just N10 per litre—only 1% of the average retail price of sugary drinks.

Oluwafemi proposed raising the tax to at least N130 per litre, in line with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. According to CAPPA, this increase could unlock over N200 billion annually in missed revenue. The funds could then support healthcare financing, school feeding programmes and initiatives to prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Experts describe a higher SSB tax as one of the most equitable and cost-effective health interventions available. CAPPA has also demanded stricter measures, including mandatory front-of-pack labelling on sugary drinks, annual public reporting by revenue agencies, and safeguards against corporate interference in health policy decisions.

The proposed tax reform aims to curb the health and economic burden of preventable diseases linked to sugary drinks. If implemented, the additional revenue could fund critical public health programmes while reducing Nigeria’s N1.92 trillion annual healthcare costs from NCDs. The government has yet to respond to the recommendations.