Akinbode Oluwafemi, who leads the Executive Directorate of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, stated that noncommunicable diseases make up roughly 30 percent of annual fatalities in Nigeria.
Oluwafemi showcased his skills during the Journalism Training on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Tax and Industry Surveillance, which took place at BON Hotel in Kano on Monday.
He pointed out that Nigeria is grappling with a growing public health emergency driven by the increase in noncommunicable diseases, largely due to dietary habits like the overconsumption of ultra-processed foods, particularly sugary drinks and high-sodium products.
Multiple researches indicate that severe illnesses previously seen as separate issues are now affecting numerous Nigerians. These conditions deplete financial resources, stress our medical infrastructure, and pose risks to the welfare of upcoming generations.
“Noteworthy is the contributions of the ultra-processed food industry to this crisis. Food corporations use a sophisticated Web of marketing strategies to lure Nigerians-especially children and young adults-into consuming ultra-processed foods that damage their health, undermine public health policies, and cost the Nigerian healthcare system billions.
He stated, "Acknowledging the issue, the Nigerian government implemented the Sugar Sweetened Beverage (SSB) tax in 2021, which imposes a N10 charge for every liter of non-alcoholic, sweetened, and carbonated beverages."
As he stated, the aim of this health initiative is to curb overconsumption of SSBs, decrease Nigerians' dependence on sweet beverages, and halt the increase in noncommunicable diseases caused by SSBs.
“But there are several concerns. These include the extremely low threshold of the tax which has rendered it ineffective, the false narratives of the SSB industry, and the lack of transparency in how the revenue from the tax is expended by the government.
The Director General of CAPPA stated that the training intends to enhance the capabilities of media personnel so they can effectively report on these public health issues, the significant load of non-communicable diseases in Nigeria, as well as health-promoting policies that put citizens' welfare first.
In addition, he mentioned that this would provide participants with the means to recognize and neutralize industry strategies that hinder the enforcement of health-promoting policies. It would also involve spreading scientifically backed information among the general population.
He said, "Your part is crucial in making sure people, particularly those at the community level, are properly informed and not swayed by stories pushed by entities with stakes in the large-scale food sector."
By delivering precise, engaging, and thorough journalism, you can inform the public, keep decision-makers responsible, guarantee that food-related health issues remain prominent in societal discussions, and push for more beneficial regulations.
During her address, Dr. Amadi Dorothy, who serves as the Deputy Director in the Non- Communicable Diseases division within the Department of Public Health at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, emphasized that as campaigns for healthier eating policies continue to spread across the country, the media plays an essential role in keeping people—particularly those in rural areas—informed and protected from misleading information pushed by powerful industries with their own agendas.
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