A public health expert has sounded alarm over Nigeria’s growing health crisis, blaming sugary drinks for rising deaths and chronic diseases.
Abayomi Sarumi, Associate Director at Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), linked Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) to the silent epidemic.
Speaking exclusively to Daily Post, Sarumi warned that soft drinks are fueling obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, especially among Nigeria’s youth.
“SSBs include sodas, fruit juices, energy and sports drinks filled with added sugars,” Sarumi said.
He explained that a single bottle contains up to 14 sugar cubes, exceeding the recommended daily limit for sugar intake.
“This excess sugar causes blood sugar crashes, fatigue, and eventually life-threatening illnesses like diabetes and heart disease,” he said.
Sarumi said over 30% of deaths in Nigeria now result from non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which sugary drinks help fuel.
He blamed aggressive marketing and wide availability for the problem, saying these drinks are wrongly viewed as harmless.
“SSBs are ultra-processed and pushed as fun and necessary. That’s misleading and dangerous,” he warned.
Citing recent data, Sarumi revealed that Nigerians consumed over 54 billion litres of sugary drinks in 2024, a massive jump from previous years.
“In 2020, we were Africa’s fourth largest consumer of SSBs at 38 million litres. Now it’s 54 billion,” he said.
He warned this boom is happening alongside increased fast food intake, pushing Nigeria toward a nutrition disaster.
“Cardiovascular diseases have jumped by over 150% in 10 years. Over 27 million Nigerians had hypertension in 2022,” he said.
Sarumi also highlighted the influence of diet, tobacco, and alcohol. According to WHO, 22% of Nigerians risk early death from NCDs.
He said many citizens remain unaware of the true dangers behind sugary drinks, making the crisis worse.
“Many still believe diabetes is spiritual or hereditary. Some are told to take sugary drinks with medication,” he said.
Sarumi accused SSB producers of targeting youth through ads and celebrity endorsements, calling it “corporate manipulation.”
“These drinks are cheap, everywhere, and advertised as symbols of success. That’s harmful marketing,” he noted.
He said companies use Corporate Social Responsibility to deflect criticism, portraying themselves as allies of public health.
To fight the crisis, Sarumi urged the government to enforce an effective SSB tax that funds healthcare, not just revenue.
“SSB tax should finance diabetes care and educate Nigerians. That’s how it makes real impact,” he said.
He also called for clear warning labels, sugar content limits, and a ban on child-focused marketing and celebrity endorsements.
“Combined policies are key. Without them, sugary drinks will continue to kill silently,” Sarumi concluded.