Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Prof. Ali Pate, and several civil society groups have thrown their weight behind a Senate proposal to overhaul the Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) Tax, calling for a shift from the flat ₦10 per litre charge to a stronger percentage-based levy dedicated to funding public health.
The position was presented on Thursday at a public hearing in Abuja, organised by the Senate Joint Committee on Finance, Customs and Excise, on a bill sponsored by Senator Ipalibo Harry Banigo aimed at restructuring the SSB tax and earmarking part of the revenue for disease prevention.
Stakeholders warned that Nigeria is facing a surge in noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) driven by high consumption of sugary drinks.
Minister Pate said formerly rare conditions such as diabetes, stroke and heart disease “are now some of the leading causes of premature death,” adding that the current ₦10 charge “has been eroded by inflation” and is no longer effective.
He urged lawmakers to approve a levy of at least 20% and dedicate 40% of revenue to public health, saying it would “create a valuable funding stream for 230 million Nigerians.”
Representing the Senate President, Senator Adeniyi Adegbomire (SAN) called the bill “a public health investment strategy,” insisting that “₦10 per litre is no longer realistic in present-day Nigeria.”
Civil society groups, including CAPPA, CISLAC, the Diabetes Association of Nigeria, and others, supported the reform.
CAPPA Executive Director Akinbode Oluwafemi urged lawmakers to set the levy at 50% of retail price, arguing this would “trigger meaningful reductions in consumption” and fund long-term NCD prevention.
He added that the current flat-rate tax “has lost its value and purpose,” insisting that a percentage-based structure is the only credible path to meeting global health standards.
The Ministry of Finance, represented by Bashir Abdulkadir, said it broadly aligns with the proposal but noted that the President holds the authority to vary tax rates under existing law.
The Senate, however, insisted on its constitutional power to amend legislation in the public interest.
Other health groups warned that Nigeria’s diabetes prevalence has risen sharply. Dr. Mansur Ramalan of the Diabetes Society of Nigeria said revenue fears are unfounded, insisting government earnings “will increase by 200%” under a stronger SSB tax.
The hearing ended with broad consensus that an expanded SSB tax paired with earmarked health funding is essential to curb rising NCDs and strengthen Nigeria’s strained healthcare system.
