In a bid to ensure the wellbeing of the citizenry, the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has demanded the imposition of 20 percent tax on sugar sweetened beverages (SSB) in the country.
CAPPA”s executive Director, CAPPA Akinbode Oluwafemi at a press conference in Abuja argued that tax remains an effective tool in reducing consumption of SSBs in all the countries of the World.
Oluwafemi contended that the imposition of the tax would help reduce the overconsumption of SSBs which have links to more than 15 types of cancer, obesity, diabetes, and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Oluwafemi further noted that the measure would also help to improve public health indices while also reducing some of the environmental problems caused by the indiscriminate disposal of SSB product packages.
“While we say that the aim is to reduce overconsumption, we must reiterate that these beverages are non-nutritive and have no use in the body. Hence, can be totally avoided for the good of everyone, ” he stressed.
Arguing that the current N10/litre on SSBs is insignificant and ineffective in curtailing its consumption, he called on the authorities not to succumb to the blackmail of the producers of SSBs to sustain the tax regime.
The group thereby called on the authorities to begin a legislative process for the sustainability of the
tax, that will be adjustable for inflation with provisions on earmarking.
“Government’s role of protecting the populace remains sacrosanct and the current government must honor this social contract with the people. The government must ensure that other SSBs not captured in the current tax regime are all included,” the group stressed.
Source: TheGuardian