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NASR Warn Nigerians On Dangers Of Sugar-Sweetened Drinks Others

Published

4 years ago

June 10, 2021

…Wants NASS to Formulate Tax Policy on SSBs

Joel Ajayi

The National Action On Sugar Reduction NASR has advised Nigerians on the dangers associated with the consumption of sugary drinks saying that the excessive consumption of sugary drinks harmful to human’s health

Highlighting the dangers, NASR revealed that Nigerians spend an estimated $4.5bn on diabetes treatment annually, countless, non-communicable diseases as well as countless cases of obesity and overweight.

The Technical Advisor of NASR, Dr Laz Ude Eze, who made this known in a webinar held with journalists, stressed that Nigeria is the 4th highest soft drink-consuming country globally with over 38 million litres of soft drink yearly in the country.

According to him, notes that over the past few decades, a rapid increase in sugar-sweetened beverages, particularly carbonated soft drinks consumption, has grown parallel with the development of an obesity epidemic in many countries of the world.

“Be aware that Nigeria has the fourth highest consumption rates of sugar-sweetened beverages (soft drinks) globally; owing to their accessibility and affordability, soft drinks have become a natural choice for many Nigerians;

“The temporal patterns in the increasing consumption of these sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), particularly carbonated soft drinks, have paralleled the rise in the prevalence of obesity and overweight; Concerned that children are given sugary drinks with meals every day, shifting their preferences from healthier choices; the excessive consumption of sugary drinks can increase the likelihood of developing non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, high blood pressure, and some cancers.

“Worried that over 4 million Nigerians suffer from diabetes, the number is expected to rise as many Nigerians cannot afford the high cost of treatment which is estimated at between $3.5bn to $4.5bn per annum; lost hours of productivity result in direct and indirect economic costs to the government.”

“NASR Further worried that ‘Healthy drinks/food’ fruit snacks are loaded with sugars containing the equivalent of 5 teaspoons per serving, 91% of products had no front of label yet all featured claims implying they were ‘healthy’ Also aware that diverse contributors to the Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) epidemic exist, a sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) tax policy will tackle the contribution made by easy access and affordability, and has the potential to decrease individual consumption of sugary drinks.

“However, few policy measures exist to curb the excessive consumption of sugary drinks by discouraging the marketing, purchase and consumption of sugary drinks; we will contribute to creating an environment that reinforces healthy choices of drink; Believes that a tax policy on sugar-sweetened beverages could reduce the consumption of sugary drinks and the accompanying poor health effects and can cushion the increased economic and public health burden of NCDs, boost government revenue and make funds available to tackle the high costs of care and treatment.”

Dr Eze therefore, called on the Federal Ministry of Health to initiate a public treatment of sugar-linked diseases such as type
ensuring that sugar-sweetened beverages carry mandatory.

The Coalition equally called on the Minister of Finance to introduce an exercise duty 20% on sugar-sweetened beverages such as carbonated sugary and energy drinks.

“We urge the Federal Ministry of Health and relevant Agencies to, curtail the excessive consumption of sugary drinks that are considered harmful to human’s health; propose a fiscal measure in the form of a tax policy on sugar-sweetened beverages; tax sugar-sweetened beverages by introducing a specific excise duty of 20% on sugar-sweetened beverages such as carbonated soft drinks and energy drinks and use the tax accrued to fund the prevention and treatment of Type II diabetes in Nigeria.

“To ban the use of dishonest packaging claims and make it mandatory for all processed foods and drinks to have warning labels on sugar-sweetened beverages to create consumer’s awareness on the sugar content and health risks.”

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Daughters of Dr. Charles Ononiwu, Chiamanda and Chiamaka, Launch Debut Books to Uplift Hearts Facing Life’s Struggles

Published

3 weeks ago

October 10, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

At just 18 and 20 years old, Chiamanda and Chiamaka Ononiwu — daughters of renowned Nigerian surgeon Dr. Charles Ononiwu — have achieved a remarkable milestone with the release of their debut inspirational books, Do Not Be Afraid and Waterfalls.

Their literary journey began six years ago, during the height of the global COVID-19 pandemic. While the world was engulfed in fear and uncertainty, the then 13- and 15-year-old sisters turned inward, using writing as an outlet to process their emotions, express their faith, and reach out to others with messages of hope and resilience.

What began as a quiet act of creativity blossomed into two powerful books that now serve as beacons of light for readers navigating life’s storms.

Eighteen-year-old Chiamanda Ononiwu is the author of Do Not Be Afraid. A passionate Electrical Engineering student , she is also a proud alumna of Intellichild TLC and Valedictorian of Great Blessings School, Class of 2022.

In her book, she addresses the emotional challenges many young people face and draws from her personal faith to offer guidance and encouragement.

Her elder sister, Chiamaka Ononiwu, 20, is a final-year medical student at Babcock University in Nigeria. She penned Waterfalls, a heartfelt and deeply spiritual work she describes as divinely inspired. Chiamaka views her writing as a calling — a mission to uplift souls and bring hope to those struggling with life’s challenges.

“Personally, I would say it all started with the idea of inclusion, inspired by real human experiences,” Chiamaka shared. “We’ve had conversations with people who’ve gone through difficult situations — including issues and those stories helped shape what I write today.”

She added, “It’s all about encouraging people to face life with faith. We began this journey during a dark time in the world, and I felt called to create something that could offer comfort and hope — not just locally, but globally.”

The official book launch and signing ceremony took place on Wednesday in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, and was attended by family, friends, colleagues, and well-wishers. It was a celebration of creativity, faith, and youthful brilliance, as the sisters presented their work to an inspired audience.

Speaking at the event, Chiamaka emphasized the core message of her book: “Waterfalls reminds readers that God is always watching over His people. He doesn’t bring fear — He brings peace, hope, and love. I want readers to find comfort and assurance in that truth.”

For Chiamanda, her book is a message to young people who may feel overwhelmed by life’s pressures: “Do Not Be Afraid is especially for youth navigating difficult times. No matter how hard life gets, you can always find strength and direction in God’s word.”

Writing came naturally to both sisters. Chiamaka recalled, “Even as a child, I loved writing short stories for my siblings. When the opportunity came to publish, I knew it was time to share my message with a wider audience.”

Despite their demanding academic paths, both young women balanced their studies with writing through perseverance and faith.

Chiamanda and Chiamaka are united by a shared dream — to inspire people across the world with their writing.

Chiamaka expressed Further; “Our biggest hope is that these books will reach people who need to know that God is real, that He’s always with them, and that through Him, anything is possible,” Chiamaka said.

With Do Not Be Afraid and Waterfalls, the Ononiwu sisters have not only created literary works — they’ve created lifelines. Their voices, grounded in faith and driven by purpose, remind readers everywhere that even in the darkest moments, God’s light never fades.

Their father, Dr. Charles Ononiwu — a distinguished surgeon and deeply devoted parent — also spoke at the event, sharing the journey from his perspective.

“For me, my number one priority has always been to care for children — not just medically, but also by encouraging them academically and in the basics of life,” he said.

He recounted a moving moment with Chiamanda, who approached him with the idea of sharing her story publicly to inspire others.

“She came to me and said she wanted to talk to her peers, to share how she had been comforted, and to help them see that everything would be okay,” he recalled. “As a father, my role was to guide her. I support both of them, help activate their strengths, and provide direction.”

Dr. Ononiwu made the decision to fund the publication of their books himself, believing in the power of their message.

“I told them, ‘You have something the world needs. You can make an impact in the lives of others,’” he said. “I believe every child has a gift. It is our responsibility as parents not to dismiss them, but to help them discover and nurture their talents.”

He encouraged all parents to support their children’s creative pursuits, noting, “Every person has something special inside them — no one is without talent. It’s just a matter of looking inward, discovering that gift, and sharing it with the world.”

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