By JKNewsMedia
DIRECT FOCUS on the health and environmental impact of sugary drinks in Nigeria shaped the premiere of “Sweet Poison”, a new documentary unveiled by Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) in Lagos.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that a statement signed by Robert Egbe, Media and Communications Officer, CAPPA, said the non-governmental organisation presented the 20-minute documentary to the public on Wednesday deliberately to scrutinize how ultra-processed food and beverage companies have embedded sugary drinks into everyday Nigerian life through aggressive marketing and extensive market penetration, which the organisation said carries dangerous public health consequences.
CAPPA also stated that sugary beverages have become regular features in homes, schools and communities as cases of diet related illnesses including Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obesity and cardiovascular disease continue to rise in Nigeria.
The organisation explained that the documentary blends expert analysis, personal stories and visuals featuring policymakers, medical professionals, non-communicable disease patients, traders, fishermen and university students to examine the public health crisis linked to excessive sugary drink consumption.
It added that the film also highlights the environmental footprint of the beverage industry, including plastic pollution and resource intensive production processes.
“Sweet Poison is an attempt to connect the dots,” said Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director, CAPPA, emphasising that “It combines medical evidence, lived experiences and on the ground realities to show how growing dependence on sugary drinks is quietly reshaping the nation’s health profile.”
The documentary also highlights the organisation’s push for youth participation in policy advocacy through engagements at national and sub national levels.
CAPPA also said the film raises questions about the effectiveness of Nigeria’s Sugar Sweetened Beverage tax introduced under the Finance Act 2021, which imposed a ₦10 per litre excise tax on non alcoholic, sweetened and carbonated drinks to reduce over consumption and generate revenue for health interventions.
According to the organisation, the documentary advocates a revised tax framework including a 50% excise tax on the final retail price of Sugar Sweetened Beverage products or at least no less than 20%, alongside dedicating part of the revenue to public health initiatives.
“With the burden of non communicable diseases rising and healthcare costs climbing, Nigeria cannot afford half measures,” Oluwafemi said. “A stronger SSB tax is a fiscal tool, and a necessary public health intervention.”
Guests at the screening included Dr. Saheed Balogun, Lagos Chairman of the Nigeria Medical Association, diabetes lived experience expert Ronke Opaleye, Founder of the Diabetes and Limb Salvage Foundation, Ms. Osarenkhoe Chima Nwogwugwu, Chief Executive Officer of Stradev Nigeria Dr. Leslie Adogame and Sam Eferaro, publisher of Nigeria Health Online.
The documentary premiered on TVC News on 5 May 2026 and is currently airing across multiple media platforms nationwide as CAPPA further stated that it is available on its official YouTube channel and across its social media platforms.
—
