CAPPA launches documentary on dangers of sugary drinks, seeks higher SSB tax

Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has launched a documentary titled Sweet Poison, warning that the growing consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is fueling a public health and environmental crisis in Nigeria. The documentary, produced by CAPPA with support from Global Health Advocacy Incubator, was screened in Lagos on Tuesday and highlighted the links between […]

Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has launched a documentary titled Sweet Poison, warning that the growing consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is fueling a public health and environmental crisis in Nigeria.

The documentary, produced by CAPPA with support from Global Health Advocacy Incubator, was screened in Lagos on Tuesday and highlighted the links between sugary drinks and the rising cases of diabetes, obesity, hypertension and other non-communicable diseases in the country.

Speaking during the presentation, CAPPA Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said sugary drinks had become deeply embedded in everyday Nigerian life through aggressive advertising, celebrity endorsements and strategic marketing.

According to him, sugary beverages are now present in homes, schools, offices, markets and social gatherings, even in places where access to clean drinking water is limited.

He said the documentary sought to expose misconceptions surrounding sugary drinks and draw attention to the health and environmental dangers associated with excessive consumption.

“Our country is witnessing a steady rise in non-communicable diseases, including type 2 diabetes, hypertension and obesity, and increasingly these diseases are affecting younger people,” he said.

Oluwafemi added that the film connected the experiences of medical experts, policymakers, traders, consumers and ordinary Nigerians to examine how sugary drinks became dominant in society and the implications for public health.

He also raised concerns over the environmental impact of beverage production, citing plastic pollution, water waste and drainage blockage caused by discarded packaging materials.

According to him, the documentary was not designed to demonise consumers but to challenge policies and commercial practices contributing to public health concerns.

He called for a stronger Sugar-Sweetened Beverage tax framework, arguing that the current tax regime was insufficient to discourage excessive consumption.

“We strongly believe that a higher excise tax tied to sugar content, alongside proper earmarking of revenues for health promotion and nutrition programmes, is not just sensible fiscal policy, it is a must,” he said.

In his remarks, Regional Senior Advisor for the Food Policy Programme in Africa at GHAI, Adeolu Adebiyi, said Nigeria was witnessing a nutrition transition driven by the increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods and beverages.

He noted that illnesses such as hypertension, stroke, cardiovascular diseases and cancer, once associated mainly with old age, were now increasingly common among young people.

“A lot of junk food is being promoted by advertising and marketing companies putting profit ahead of public health,” he said.

Adebiyi stressed the need for stronger regulations, including higher taxes on sugary drinks, to reduce overconsumption and improve public awareness about health risks.

Also speaking, Chairman of the Lagos State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Dr. Babajide Saheed, warned that excessive sugar intake could lead to severe health complications.

“It can lead to blindness, heart disease, amputations and other complications. Sugar should be regulated, but not completely demonised. Moderation is key,” he said.

Saheed, however, argued that increased taxation on sugary drinks could ultimately be transferred to consumers through higher prices.

The documentary also featured Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health, Iziaq Adekunle Salako, who said the current N10 tax on sugary drinks was not directly allocated to the health sector as practised in countries such as the United Kingdom and France.

He called for sustained advocacy to increase the tax and channel proceeds into healthcare infrastructure and public health interventions.

Participants at the event also urged the government to support Nigerians living with diabetes, hypertension and cancer by removing taxes on medications used for treatment.