The Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprises (CPPE) has called on the Nigerian government to reject a proposal seeking to introduce an additional tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs).
The appeal was made by the organisation’s Executive Director, Dr. Muda Yusuf, in a statement released on Tuesday.
The position comes in response to a proposal by Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), which is advocating for the tax on health grounds.
However, CPPE argued that the proposal is poorly timed and not well thought out, especially as Nigeria’s economy is still in a fragile recovery phase.
According to the group, introducing an additional tax on SSBs could negatively impact the manufacturing sector and worsen existing challenges faced by businesses.
“The proposal for additional taxation on sugar-sweetened beverages is misaligned with Nigeria’s current economic realities, inconsistent with ongoing tax reforms, and particularly unjustifiable given the extraordinary energy cost pressures confronting the industry.
“The National Assembly to discontinue any legislative consideration of such a tax and public health authorities to prioritize education, prevention, and lifestyle interventions
“At this critical stage of Nigeria’s economic recovery, the policy imperative should be to support businesses, protect jobs, and strengthen growth not impose additional tax burdens on an already strained sector,” CPPE stated.
 has called on the Nigerian government to reject a proposal seeking to introduce an additional tax on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs).){kind=link}