By Onilede Titi Faith
The World Health Organisation has called on Nigeria and other countries to significantly increase taxes on sugary drinks and alcoholic beverages to curb rising cases of non-communicable diseases and improve public health outcomes.
In a statement this week, WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said low tax rates have made sugary drinks and alcohol too affordable, contributing to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancers and injuries, particularly among children and young people.
He described health taxes as one of the most effective tools for reducing harmful consumption while generating revenue for health services. According to WHO, evidence shows that higher excise taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages and alcohol reduce consumption and provide funds that can be channelled into public health programmes.
The organisation noted that although many countries already tax these products, rates often fail to keep pace with inflation and income growth, making them increasingly affordable. It said this undermines efforts to reduce preventable diseases.
WHO’s call aligns with its “3 by 35” initiative, which urges countries to increase excise taxes on tobacco, alcohol and sugary drinks by up to 50 per cent over the next decade.
In Nigeria, an excise duty of N10 per litre is currently imposed on sugar-sweetened beverages, but health experts say the rate is too low to significantly influence consumption or disease risk.
