CAPPA Hails Senate’s Sugar Tax Reform, Urges House to Act Quickly
Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has commended the Senate for approving a new bill to overhaul Nigeria’s sugar-sweetened beverage tax. The proposal shifts from a flat 10-naira per litre levy to a percentage-based duty linked to retail prices and sets aside part of the revenue for health promotion and disease prevention. CAPPA praised Senator Ipalibo Banigo for sponsoring the measure and called on the House of Representatives to fast-track its passage into law. The organisation argues that current rates are too low to curb excessive sugar intake and that ad valorem taxes align with World Health Organization best practices. Highlighting the urgency, CAPPA pointed to the growing burden of non-communicable diseases in Nigeria. Nearly one in three deaths now stems from conditions like diabetes and hypertension, with more than 11 million Nigerians living with diabetes. The group also stressed the need for transparent oversight of earmarked funds to ensure resources reach prevention campaigns and expand access to essential health services. “Strengthening the sugar tax is not just fiscal policy,” CAPPA said, “it is a life-saving intervention.”
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