Nigeria is facing a growing health crisis due to the increasing consumption of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs), according to public health expert Abayomi Sarumi. In an exclusive interview, Sarumi warned that the widespread intake of sugary drinks, commonly referred to as soft drinks, is silently fueling a health emergency, particularly among young people.
SSBs, which include sodas, fruit drinks, energy drinks, and sports drinks, contain added sugars such as sucrose, high-fructose corn syrup, or other sweeteners like honey and molasses. An average bottle of SSB contains nearly 14 cubes of sugar, exceeding the daily recommended sugar intake. This excess sugar can lead to a sudden rise and crash in blood sugar levels, causing fatigue, mood swings, and increasing the risk of serious health problems like heart disease, weight gain, and type 2 diabetes.
The consumption of SSBs is rampant in Nigeria, with the country now ranking as one of the largest consumers of sugary drinks in Africa. According to Sarumi, over 54 billion liters of SSBs were consumed in Nigeria in 2024, a significant increase from the 38 million liters reported just four years prior. This rise in SSB consumption is occurring alongside an increase in fast food and processed snack consumption, contributing to a “diet-related disease explosion.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 22% of Nigerians are now at risk of dying early from non-communicable diseases, with over 27.5 million Nigerians living with hypertension as of 2022. Sarumi notes that many Nigerians are unaware of the dangers of SSBs, and some even believe that sugary drinks are harmless due to aggressive marketing and misleading advice.
The food industry plays a significant role in promoting SSBs, especially among young people, by making them cheap, widely available, and heavily advertised. Sarumi suggests that the implementation of a strong SSB tax could help reduce consumption, but emphasizes that the tax should go beyond raising revenue and instead fund healthcare and public health campaigns to educate citizens.
To address the growing health crisis, Sarumi recommends additional measures, including clear warning labels on sugary products, limits on salt and sugar content, banning celebrity endorsements of SSBs, and restricting marketing aimed at children. By implementing these combined policies, Nigeria can protect its citizens, especially children, and improve the overall health of the country.
