CAPPA Premieres Documentary on Health, Environmental Risks of Sugary Drinks

-
L-R: Diabetes “Lived experience expert” Ronke Opaleye; Executive Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) Akinbode Oluwafemi; Lagos Chairman, Nigeria Medical Association Dr. Saheed Babajide; Founder of the Diabetes & Limb Salvage Foundation (DLSF) Ms. Osarenkhoe Chima-Nwogwugwu; and the CEO of Stradev Nigeria, Dr. Leslie Adogame at the screening of CAPPA’s latest documentary “Sweet Poison” in Lagos on Wednesday, 20 May 2026.



Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has premiered a new documentary titled “Sweet Poison,” highlighting the health and environmental dangers associated with the growing consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in Nigeria.

The 20-minute documentary was unveiled during a media presentation in Lagos on Wednesday and examines how ultra-processed food and beverage companies have embedded sugary drinks into daily Nigerian life through aggressive marketing and extensive market penetration.

According to CAPPA, the documentary links the increasing consumption of sugary beverages to the rising burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obesity and cardiovascular diseases.

The organisation noted that the film combines expert analysis, personal experiences and visual storytelling to expose what it described as a growing public health crisis.

“Blending expert analysis with personal stories and striking visuals, the documentary features perspectives from policymakers, medical professionals, NCD patients, traders, fishermen and university students,” the group stated.

The documentary also examines the environmental impact of the beverage industry, including plastic pollution and resource-intensive production practices.

Executive Director of CAPPA, Akinbode Oluwafemi, described the documentary as an effort to connect the relationship between sugary drinks, public health and environmental concerns.

“Sweet Poison is an attempt to connect the dots,” he said.

“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 CAPPA’s advocacy for stronger youth participation in public health policy campaigns at national and sub-national levels.

CAPPA used the documentary to renew its call for a review of Nigeria’s Sugar-Sweetened Beverage tax introduced under the Finance Act 2021, which imposed a N10 per litre excise duty on sweetened and carbonated drinks.

The organisation argued that the current tax structure has not significantly reduced consumption or discouraged unhealthy industry practices.

According to CAPPA, the documentary advocates a stronger tax framework, including a 50 per cent excise tax on the final retail price of sugary drinks, or at least a minimum of 20 per cent, with part of the revenue dedicated to public health interventions.

 burden of non-communicable diseases rising and healthcare costs climbing, Nigeria cannot afford half-measures,” Oluwafemi added.

“A stronger SSB tax is a fiscal tool and a necessary public health intervention.”

Among guests at the screening were Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association in Lagos, Dr Saheed Babajide; diabetes advocate Ronke Opaleye; Founder of the Diabetes and Limb Salvage Foundation, Osarenkhoe Chima-Nwogwugwu; Chief Executive Officer of Stradev Nigeria, Dr Leslie Adogame; and Publisher of Nigeria Health Online, Sam Eferaro.

The documentary premiered on TVC News on May 5, 2026, and is currently being aired across several media platforms nationwide.

CAPPA said the film is also available on its official YouTube channel, in the link: https://youtu.be/wHHBEEk22rY si=276GX7N_upk0DnjA and other social media platforms.

The organisation described “Sweet Poison” as both a warning and a call to action for policymakers, the media and the public to address the growing health risks linked to sugary drink consumption.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

CAPPA Backs FG’s Health Tax Policy, Seeks Higher Levy on Sugary Drinks

-
Image
  The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has welcomed the Federal Government’s plan to channel excise-tax revenues from alcohol, tobacco, and sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) into health financing, but urged authorities to raise the levy on sugary drinks to make it more effective. At a national health-financing dialogue in Abuja, Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Mr. Taiwo Oyedele, disclosed that a draft policy is being finalised to earmark revenues from “sin taxes” for healthcare.  The proposal will soon be submitted to the Minister of Health and Social Welfare. Responding in a statement issued by its Media and Communication Officer, Robert Egbe on Monday, CAPPA said the move marks a decisive step towards addressing Nigeria’s public health crisis, with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease now accounting for nearly 30 per cent of deaths nationwide. Executive Director of CA...
Read more

UNILAG Alumni Association to Mark 55th Anniversary with Awards, Fundraising for Education Support

-
Image
The University of Lagos Alumni Association has unveiled plans for its 55th Anniversary Awards and Recognition Dinner, scheduled for Friday, October 17, 2025, at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. Speaking at a news briefing in Akoka, President of the Association, Engr. Ifeoluwa Oyedele, said the event will celebrate distinguished alumni while raising funds to strengthen education at the institution.  Proceeds, he noted, will support scholarships for indigent students, provide research and teaching equipment, and fund a new 1,800-bed hostel project. Vice President Kashim Shettima will be the Special Guest of Honour, while eminent physician, Olorogun Dr. Sonny Kuku, will chair the occasion. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, will also be in attendance alongside top dignitaries. The Association will present awards in three categories. The Alumni Platinum Award will be conferred on Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, GCON, Chief Justice of Nigeria; Chief Wole Olanipe...
Read more

World Food Day: CAPPA Warns Against Corporate Capture of Nigeria’s Food System

-
Image
As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to commemorate World Food Day 2025, the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has raised concern over the growing dominance of ultra-processed foods in the country’s food system, warning that weak regulation and unchecked corporate influence are endangering public health. In a statement signed by CAPPA’s Media and Communication Officer, Robert Egbe, and released in Lagos on Thursday, the group said the government must urgently strengthen laws that protect citizens from deceptive marketing and unhealthy food products. The statement quoted Akinbode Oluwafemi, CAPPA’s Executive Director, as saying that multinational food and beverage companies are expanding their reach through aggressive advertising and sponsorships that target children, young people, and low-income communities. “Corporations are flooding our markets with ultra-processed foods and sugary drinks, using deceptive marketing to present them as healthy, modern, ...
Read more