By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Independent News ExpressIndependent News Express
  • Home
  • International
    InternationalShow More
    UNICEF Raises Alarm Over 14m Children Worldwide At Risk Of Malnutrition
    4 weeks ago
    United Nations for Women
    In 8 Days, 830 Killed In Gaza – UN Women Raises Alarm
    1 month ago
    Sudan
    Beijing Declaration: Nations Reiterates Commitment To Rights Of Women
    2 months ago
    VFS Global
    VFS Global Launches Artificial Intelligence -Powered Chatbot For UK Visa Customers In Nigeria, 140 Other Nations
    2 months ago
    Bigo Live’s Global Community Marks a Year of Influence at Annual Gala
    4 months ago
  • Africa
    Africa
    Show More
    Top News
    Kagame, Jonathan, Others To Receive African Icon Award In Kigali
    2 years ago
    Human Rights Watch
    Uganda: Human Rights Watch Kicks As Govt Set To Criminalise Gay
    2 years ago
    Putin Gifts Zimbabwe’s President A Helicopter
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    African Union Champions Artificial Intelligence for Africa’s Socioeconomic Transformation
    1 month ago
    United Kingdom Looks to Deepen Energy Trade, Investment Ties with Africa
    2 months ago
    African Leaders Unite to Mobilize African Investment and Financing for Implementing Agenda 2063
    2 months ago
    How Youssouf Upset Odinga To Emerge New AU Chair
    3 months ago
  • Corporate News
    • Media Outreach
  • Politics
    Politics
    Show More
    Top News
    Osun Lawmakers: We’re Ready To Work With Governor Adeleke
    2 years ago
    Monimitchelle’s Boss, Ebi Egbe Congratulates Sanwo-Olu On His Re-Election 
    2 years ago
    Adeleke’s Government is fully committed to development of Osun State – Odejobi
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    LG Election: Stakeholders Appeal To APC Not To Allow Chairmen Run For 3rd term
    3 days ago
    More APC Chairmanship Aspirants Reject Indirect Primary For Local Govt Elections In Lagos State
    5 days ago
    Youth Party Sets May 18 for Lagos LG Primary Elections, Slashes Fees For Women and PWDs
    3 weeks ago
    Oyo State Faces Herculean Task in Picking Makinde’s Successor – Chief Ayorinde
    2 months ago
  • News
    • Agriculture
    • Breaking News
    • Tech
    • Maritime
    • Crime
    • Art & Culture
    News
    Show More
    Top News
    Ondo Governor, Akeredolu Begins Construction Of First Flyover In Akure
    2 years ago
    Celebration Of Life: Reverend Adewumi Jegede Of Later House Of God Assembly Buried Amid Pomp
    11 months ago
    Pa Abdulfatah Amoo Ayanwale
    Pa Ayanwale Dies At 76, Fidau Prayers Holds 8 August
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    Lagos Govt Organises Canada Overseas Study Tour For Youth Leaders
    6 days ago
    May Day 2025: CAPPA Urges FG, States to Prioritise Workers Welfare, Demands Implementation of a Living Wage
    1 week ago
    Umuezie Elections: Unity In Political Diversity is Key For Community Development, Former IMSUAA Boss Tells New Executive
    2 weeks ago
    2025 Edelman Trust Barometer Report Exposes Growing Mistrust Among Nigerians Towards Their Leaders, CEOs
    5 days ago
  • Entertainment
    • Comedy
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Concert & Events
    Entertainment
    Show More
    Top News
    Whiskey: Burna Boy’s Story On Pollution, Flood And Negligence
    2 years ago
    XPression With CDO Train To Hit Nigerian Campuses Soon
    2 years ago
    Asake Out With 14-track ‘Work of Art’ Album
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    Prestige, Impact: Why AMVCA is the People’s Award Show
    16 hours ago
    Celebrating African Cinema: AMVCA’s Growing Influence in Global Entertainment
    2 weeks ago
    Boulder International Film Festival Announces 2026 Festival Dates
    3 weeks ago
    Voices of the Future: How MultiChoice Talent Factory (MTF) Filmmakers are Redefining African Storytelling
    4 weeks ago
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion
    • Love & Life
    • Food & Drink
    • Travel & Tourism
    • Relationship
    • Sex
    Lifestyle
    Show More
    Top News
    Lagos To Celebrate Annual Yoruba Culture Last Week Of September
    1 year ago
    Glame Attires Steals The Show At Warri Fashion Lifestyle Festival
    2 years ago
    2nd International Conference for Event Ushers Holds In Ibadan
    2 months ago
    Latest News
    Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art and Toledo Museum of Art Launch Historic Cultural Exchange
    24 hours ago
    Piracy in Africa’s Creative Sector: How Creators Can Protect Their Content
    3 weeks ago
    Fanti Carnival Returns To Lagos This Easter Sunday
    3 weeks ago
    Ara Adire Fashion Show 2025 To Celebrate Culture, Style And Creativity In Abeokuta
    1 month ago
  • Business
    • Banking & Finance
    • Oil & Gas
    BusinessShow More
    Unity Bank Launches GenFi, Targets Children, Teens With Gamified Banking Platform
    3 days ago
    Africa Energies Summit
    Africa Energies Summit in London Must Prioritize Hiring Black Africans
    4 days ago
    Fitch Rating: Lagos Economy Is Stable
    6 days ago
    National Oil Spill Detection and Remediation Agency
    How Nigeria Lost $78.2m To Gas Flaring In Early 2025
    1 week ago
    BUA Foods Records N125bn Profit As Revenue Grows By 24% In Q1 2025 Unaudited Financial Results
    1 week ago
  • Health
    Health
    Show More
    Top News
    ICN 2023: National Nursing Associations To Share Cutting-edge Case Studies At Montreal Congress
    2 years ago
    Deborah Multi-Specialist Hospital & Diagnostics Center
    ‘Deborah Multi-Specialist Hospital & Diagnostics Center, A Wake-Up Call To Ondo State Indigenes To Give Back To The Society’
    2 years ago
    Why Many Women Opt For Plastic Surgery – Surgeon
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    VillageReach Names Dr. Ahmed Ogwell As CEO To Drive Its 2030 Strategy
    1 week ago
    Trump’s Trade War: Prescription Drugs Become a Target
    4 weeks ago
    BPAN Unveils Free Healthcare Program for Nigerian boxers, signs MOU with NIH
    4 weeks ago
    More Than A Disease, TB Is A Symptom Of Underinvestment By Dr Allan Pamba
    4 weeks ago
  • More
    • Sports
    • Aviation/Transportation
    • Deliverance Hour
    • Industry & Labour
    • Insurance
    • Interview
    • Judiciary
    • Metro
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Religious
    • Romance
    • Science & Discovery
Reading: Fighting Obesity Through SSB Tax By Opeyemi Ibitoye
Share
Notification Show More
Aa
Independent News ExpressIndependent News Express
Aa
  • Home
  • International
  • Africa
  • Corporate News
  • Politics
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Business
  • Health
  • More
Search
  • Home
  • International
  • Africa
  • Corporate News
    • Media Outreach
  • Politics
  • News
    • Agriculture
    • Breaking News
    • Tech
    • Maritime
    • Crime
    • Art & Culture
  • Entertainment
    • Comedy
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Concert & Events
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion
    • Love & Life
    • Food & Drink
    • Travel & Tourism
    • Relationship
    • Sex
  • Business
    • Banking & Finance
    • Oil & Gas
  • Health
  • More
    • Sports
    • Aviation/Transportation
    • Deliverance Hour
    • Industry & Labour
    • Insurance
    • Interview
    • Judiciary
    • Metro
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Religious
    • Romance
    • Science & Discovery
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Advertise
© 2022 Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.
Independent News Express > Blog > Health > Fighting Obesity Through SSB Tax By Opeyemi Ibitoye
HealthOpinion

Fighting Obesity Through SSB Tax By Opeyemi Ibitoye

Last updated: 2024/04/28 at 6:53 PM
1 year ago
Share
SHARE


The latest data from the World Obesity Federation (WOF) show a significant increase in the prevalence of obesity in Nigeria and the rest of the world in the past decade. For instance, the data – published on the WOF website – projects that by 2035, 1.9 billion people out of an estimated global population of 8.8 billion will be living with obesity, almost 400 million of whom will be school-age children. In total, over 4 billion people, or one in every four persons, will be overweight or obese. 

In Nigeria alone, the WOF estimates that 8.2 per cent of Nigerians are obese. World Health Organisation (WHO) projections might even be higher. As of 2020, the WHO estimated that there were more than 21 million overweight and 12 million obese people in the Nigerian population aged 15 years or older, accounting for an age-adjusted prevalence of about 20 per cent and 12 per cent, respectively. This should be a major cause for concern considering the country’s rising non-communicable diseases (NCDs) burden. According to Nigeria’s National Health Accounts, the government spends over ₦384.4 billion (US$1.26 billion) yearly on managing NCDs.

- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

Simply put, obesity results from consuming more calories than the body can burn through daily activity. Over time, these excess calories accumulate and contribute to weight gain. Various studies have shown that obesity is the major predisposing factor for NCDs. Excess calories are often found in Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs), commonly referred to as soft drinks. Evidence from several studies shows that excessive consumption of added sugar is one of the risk factors predisposing individuals to diabetes. SSBs, as a major source of excessive sugar, were ignored until recently. Soft drinks are readily available, easily accessible, and affordable across the country. A litre of these drinks contains up to 14 cubes of sugar. Nigeria is reputed as the 4th highest consumer of SSBs in the world.  

Concerned about the health burden of these drinks and in line with global recommendations, the Nigerian government introduced a N10 per litre levy on SSBs in June 2022 through the Finance Act, aimed at reducing habitual SSB consumption. This praiseworthy effort, albeit inadequate to effect the desired consumer behavioural change, has sparked hostility from the SSB industry, which prioritizes profits above public health.

To support the government’s policy initiative aimed at safeguarding the health of Nigerians and exerting pressure on the SSB industry to considerably lower the amount of added sugar in its products, a pan-African not-for-profit, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has led an extensive campaign across various levels of policy engagement and embarked on a public awareness drive.

CAPPA is urging the government to increase the SSB tax rate from N10/litre to N130/litre, following evidence from a simulation study of the potential fiscal and public health effects of such an increase. The study projects that an upward review of the SSB tax to a N130 levy per litre would not only greatly reduce SSB consumption but also promote the health of Nigerians and potentially raise about N729 billion in tax revenue for the government. Conducted in Nigeria in 2023, the study’s findings were released in February 2024 to aid policymakers in making well-informed decisions using data specific to Nigeria. The findings, in correlation with the global outlook from the WOF, also shatter the myth that obesity is associated only with high-income countries.  

According to the WHO, low-and middle-income countries face a double burden of malnutrition. While these countries, including Nigeria, continue to deal with the problems of infectious diseases and undernutrition, they are also experiencing a rapid upsurge in NCD risk factors such as obesity and overweight. In Nigeria, urbanization drives the consumption of unhealthy foods. Poorer households are more likely to prioritize meeting energy requirements over nutritional quality, spending their money on less expensive items that are high in calories but offer little to no nutritional value. Urban dwellers have more supermarkets and fast-food chains, which provide a ready and abundant supply of ultra-processed foods, as well as energy-dense snacks and SSBs. Consequently, the prevalence of unhealthy diets is increasing among both rural and urban populations, leading to higher obesity rates in the country.

Youths and young Nigerians, who traditionally constitute the highest SSB-consuming demography, make up around 70 per cent of the population with an average age of 18 to 40. Addressing their struggles with unhealthy dietary habits is crucial, particularly through measures such as the SSB tax. This intervention could significantly enhance their prospects of leading meaningful lives and avoiding the burden of NCDs in later years. Also, as Nigeria confronts these challenges, the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders will be essential. By fostering a culture of health consciousness through intentional policy efforts like the SSB tax, the nation can pave the way toward a healthier future for all its citizens.

Opeyemi Ibitoye is a Programme Officer at Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA).

You Might Also Like

Ekiti’26: A Gale Of Gov. Oyebanji’s Half-Pie Endorsement And The Rest Of Us

Wanted: Blueprint For Nigeria’s Waste Management Crisis

VillageReach Names Dr. Ahmed Ogwell As CEO To Drive Its 2030 Strategy

BOOK REVIEW: Big Debt, Big Thirst: A Case Study of World Bank Supported Water Projects in Ekiti, Rivers and Bauchi States

A Tribute To Dr. Mike Adenuga @72 By Adebayo Ogunbiyi

TAGGED: World Obesity Federation (WOF)
INadminNG April 28, 2024 April 28, 2024
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Whatsapp LinkedIn Telegram Email Print
Previous Article Sponsor Thanks Organisers As Madojiemu U-15 Athletics Ends In Benin
Next Article AFCC Cup Final: Young Boys D Shame Bookmakers After Defeating Opponents
about us

Independent News Express (iNews Express), a publication of 4Ds Nigeria Limited, is birthed out of the desires of the founding fathers to report News as it is.

We value Professionalism, Excellence, Service, Creativity and Integrity.

The Company

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy & Policy

Quick Links

  • Advertise with us
  • Newsletters
  • Deal

Categories

Find Us on Socials

© Independent News Express. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?