The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise (CPPE) has expressed shock and deep concern over the Senate's decision to proceed with the passage of the Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) Tax Bill, despite overwhelming objections from private sector stakeholders led by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN).
CPPE Director Voices Opposition
Dr. Muda Yusuf, Chief Executive Officer of CPPE, noted that the bill seeks to impose an additional layer of taxation on non-alcoholic beverage manufacturers at a time when government policy should focus on easing the cost of doing business and revitalizing manufacturing. He described the bill as ill-timed, insensitive to prevailing economic realities, and inconsistent with the Federal Government's commitment to reducing the tax burden on businesses.
Yusuf highlighted that manufacturers are currently grappling with elevated energy costs, high interest rates, foreign exchange pressures, logistics challenges, weak consumer purchasing power, and multiple taxes and levies. He warned that imposing an additional excise tax on non-alcoholic beverages would further erode industrial competitiveness and weaken investment prospects.
Policy Inconsistency Concerns
The CPPE director pointed out that the proposed legislation runs contrary to the spirit of ongoing fiscal and tax reforms designed to create a more investment-friendly business environment. He noted that the 2026 fiscal policy framework already provides for an excise duty of N10 per litre on non-alcoholic beverages. Further escalation of the tax burden through additional legislation would create policy inconsistency, heighten regulatory uncertainty, and undermine investor confidence.
World Food Safety Day 2026
Meanwhile, as the world marks World Food Safety Day 2026 under the theme “From Burden to Solutions: Safe Food Everywhere,” Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has renewed its call on the Nigerian government to adopt and implement stronger, healthy food policies to protect citizens from the growing burden of diet-related diseases.
The organization noted that while food safety is often discussed in terms of contamination, adulteration, and foodborne illnesses, truly safe food must also protect consumers from excessive levels of salt, sugar, unhealthy fats, and harmful additives that are risk factors for non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, stroke, kidney disease, and certain cancers.
