On Sunday, July 13, 2025, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) hosted over 40 journalists, broadcasters, and on-air personalities (OAPs) in Abuja for an evening of conversation, learning, and a shared goal of making Nigeria healthier by reducing the public’s excessive consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and other unhealthy diets.
The event, held at Lake Greenfield Hotel and Towers in Kadu, was part of CAPPA’s ongoing campaign to build support for an increase in the SSB tax and to expose how industry players attempt to obstruct public health policies.
Welcoming the guests, CAPPA Executive Director Akinbode Oluwafemi thanked the media for helping raise awareness about the health dangers of sugary drinks. He stressed the need to raise the current SSB tax from ₦10 to at least ₦130 per litre to reduce how much Nigerians consume. He urged media professionals to speak up more—on air and in print—so that both the public and policymakers understand how dangerous these drinks are.
He also invited the broadcasters to feature CAPPA in their shows and newsrooms to further spread the message.
Adding to the conversation, Dr. Joseph Ekiyor, a public health expert and global health researcher, explained how sugary drinks are fueling a health crisis. He said non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and stroke, many of which are linked to sugar-sweetened beverages, killed 43 million people in 2021. By 2030, that number could rise to 52 million, with low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria carrying the greatest burden. He warned that this growing crisis could collapse families, weaken the economy, and overwhelm the country’s already fragile healthcare system.
To those worried that a higher tax might harm the economy, economist and public policy researcher Austin Iraoya had a response. He pointed to countries like South Africa, Mexico, China, and the United States—all of which introduced sugar taxes without damaging their industries. In many cases, companies simply adjusted by producing healthier drinks like bottled water.
Iraoya estimated that Nigeria could earn up to ₦729 billion each year from the proposed tax increase. He said that money could be directed to health and nutrition programs that support everyday Nigerians.
The evening ended with a shared meal and a call to action: for journalists to continue using their platforms to inform the public, challenge corporate misinformation, and push for a healthier Nigeria, one story at a time.
