World Bank has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to impose special taxes on alcohol, cigarettes, and sugar-sweetened beverages.
Gatekeepers News reports that the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Shubham Chaudhuri said this will improve primary healthcare.
Chaudhuri made this call during the special National Council on Health meeting organised by the Federal Ministry of Health in Abuja on Friday.
He said, “If we want to improve healthcare in Nigeria, we need to tax the things that are killing us.
“The economic rationale for taxing these products is strong if we want to save lives and make a better and healthier Nigeria.”
The World Bank Country Director for Nigeria noted that taxes on tobacco, alcohol and sugar-sweetened beverages would reduce the health risks associated with their consumption and expand fiscal space for universal health coverage post-COVID-19.
Chaudhuri added that investing in a stronger health system for all would contribute to tackling rising poverty and inequality.
The Country Director stated that health tax increases would have the additional advantage of reducing future healthcare costs by preventing the growth of non-communicable diseases that tobacco, alcohol, and sugar-sweetened beverages cause.
