Mr Akinbode Oluwafemi, the Executive Director, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), on Thursday urged Nigerians to condemn and reject any corporate social responsibility aimed at promoting unhealthy products.
Oluwafemi gave the advice in Abuja at a news conference on Nigeria’s Pro-Health Policy on Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSB) Tax, with the theme, “SSB tax: Industry Undermining Public Health for Profit”
He said that the manufacturing industry actively targeted children and youths, bombarding them with sugary advertising and social activities, normalizing unhealthy habit at a crucial stage in their development.
“This predatory marketing exploit the vulnerability of young minds, shaping preferences that echo for years.
“The consequences are far- reaching as diabetes and its complications steal years of healthy life, erode productivity and strain resources, leaving families shattered and future uncertain.
“Amidst the festive cheer, SSB Industry drown out public health concerns with a deafening roar of misinformation and they blame personal responsibility.
“They ignore their aggressive marketing tactics that target the most vulnerable, children and low- income community,” CAPPA chief said.
According to him, while families come together for festive gathering, SSB Industry feasts on obscene profits, built on the backs of collective health.
“Those producers hold annual corporate festive activities such as sponsorships and awards as a way of promoting their unhealthy products.
“The intense green washing includes cleaning up of shoreline, provision of motorized borehole, different paid awards and posturing as helpers of communities.
” They are cleaning the shoreline of plastic wastes they created, providing water for communities they have used up and contaminated their water.
“All these are done to distract the people from the health dangers they are inflicting on the population,” Oluwafemi said.
According to him, Nigerians must choose public health over corporate greed and advocate for the increase in the current N10/litre tax on those unhealthy drinks.
He said that Nigerians needed to be aware of dangers of SSB products consumption and some lifestyles which were dangerous to their health.
He urged government to review and increase tax of SSB products in order to reduce SSBs consumption for the well- being of Nigerians and avoidance of diabetes and other related diseases.
“SSB tax is a public health intervention, a nudge towards healthier choices, a disincentive to the excessive consumption of sugar.
” Studies have shown that a 10 per cent SSB tax can lead to a significant decrease in consumption, particularly among low-income communities disproportionately affected by sugary drinks.
” The economic burden of treating chronic disease far outweighs the tax revenue. It is important to ensure our celebrations are not poisoned by corporate exploitation.
“Let’s reject the bitter aftertaste of corporate greed and choose a sweet victory for public health,” he said.
Also speaking, Dr Francis Fagbule, Public Health Expert, University College Hospital Ibadan, said that it was imperative to cloud the public with the understanding of the true health implications associated with habitual consumption of their products
