The Regional Stakeholders Forum on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSB) tax was organized by the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) and the Sugar Sweetened Beverages Tax Coalition. The workshop held on the 15th day of June, 2023 at Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, and CHHELD was represented by the Executive Director, Comr. Dandyson Harry Dandyson. The workshop was aimed at leading conversations amongst stakeholders on the curbing of SSBs through taxation. SSBs has been linked to many illness, such as obesity, cancer, kidney diseases, weight gain, etc and it has posed as a public health risk. The SSB tax is a pro-health fiscal policy designed to improve public health outcomes. Nigeria is ranked the fourth largest global consumer of SSBs portends dangerous consequences for public. The SSB tax campaign calls on the government on Nigeria to go a step forward from the N10 per litre tax on SSBs to at least 20% of the final retail price of SSB products as recommended by the World Health organization (WHO). The objectives of SSB taxes are as follows:
1. To increase the retail price of SSBs and reduce their purchase and consumption.
2. To raise public awareness.
3. To incentivize behavioural changes.
4. To reduce free sugar intake.
5. To generate fiscal revenue.
The Regional Stakeholders Forum begun with the welcome address by Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director of CAPPA. He welcomed all participants; stakeholders from the civil society organizations, traditional leaders, representatives from government parastatals, media, etc and stated the objectives of the forum, which is galvalnizing stakeholders support for the SSB tax campaign. He also stated that SSB taxes serve as a way for generating revenue for public health initiatives.
The Governor of Bayelsa State, His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri who was ably represented by the Deputy Governor, His Excellency, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo gave his opening address during the regional stakeholder forum on SSB Tax. He shared his reservations and concerns about the extent to which taxation can help reduce the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. He said the major the focus should be on advocacy on behaviour change modification to enlighten people on the harmful effects of consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. He admonished attendees to look out for other ways to advocate for the reduction on consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, as taxation alone won’t eradicate the problem at hand. Also, Nigeria as a country suffers from multiple taxation and the increase in taxation could scare multi-national investors. He highlighted the Bayelsa State government in promoting a healthy lifestyle amongst its workers and people, which entails a robust approach in educating them on healthy llfestyle choices, such as exercising, eating balanced diet, etc. He expressed the government’s commitment to contribute to the achievement of the goals and objectives of the SSB taxation campaign.
The first presentation was on the Burden of SSBs consumption on public health by Dr. Francis Fagbule, public health consultant at the University College Hospital, University of Ibadan. He further continued the discourse on behavioural change modification, he referred to behaviour change as a significant transformation in behavioural patterns. He posited that promoting behaviour change can be achieved through the application of incentives, such as increase in the price of SSBs, enlightening people on the risk and detriments of consuming SSB. Dr. Francis Fagbule pointed out that SSBs are high-calorie intake that offer no nutritional value, and when consumed in excess, they are converted into fat deposits by the human, which result in weight gain and other health challenges. He also stated that SSB are consumed by a majority of adolescents and young adults, regardless of their socio-economic status, because of its affordability and appealing marketing.
The second presentation was on SSB tax as a Panacea to Nigeria’s NCD Epidermic and the need for Tax Earmarking by Adeniyi Oginni, Executive Secretary, Osun Health Insurance Agency. In his presentation, he emphasized on the criticality of earmarking funds generated from SSB to ensure their effective and targeted application in improving public health. He pointed out the need for identification of mechanisms that can be leveraged on to maximize these earmarked funds.
The third presentation was on Economics and public health impacts of SSB Tax by Austine Iraoye, Research Associate, Centre for the Study of Economics of Africa. Mr. Austine Iraoye in his presentation showed the global evidence that support taxes on SSB which is a strategy to tackle the increasing rate of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), even as revenue is generated for the government. He also pointed out the relationship between the activities of major food corporations and large oil corporations that pose environmental risks through oil spills and gas flaring. He emphasized on the need to address these health and environment challenges in a similar manner as they deserve equal attention by the government and all stakeholders.
The regional stakeholders forum came to an end with a plenary session on Setting Policy and Legislative Agenda towards achieving effective SSB tax in Nigeria. The plenary session fostered conversations among participants on the SSB tax campaign, alternative ways to curb the consumption of SSB which also involves public awareness via advertisement to enlighten and shape the behaviour of the public. The participants in the workshop shared cont ributions and had a common vision of a review of SSB taxation and effective ways to campaign for the implementation of the SSB tax. The contributions and demands of all stakeholders were documented in a communique for the government and general public. The communique was signed by the CAPPA, National SSB Tax Coalition, Environment Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, Rainbow Watch and Development Centre, Oilwatch Nigeria, Community Development Advocacy Foundation, Green Earth for Great Minds Initiative, and Zibekien Owen Ogon development initiative.
