Residents of Ilorin, Kwara state, are reacting to the federal government’s announcement that an excise levy of N10 per liter will be imposed on all non-alcoholic, carbonated, and sweetened beverages in the country.
Residents and economic experts in the state have condemned the development as counter-productive and ill-timed, and they would rather have a tax increase on the country’s affluents wealth.
According to the federal government, the excise charged on soft drinks is a type of tax levied on domestically made items; the new policy, known as the “Sugar Tax,” would discourage excessive use of sugary beverages, which lead to diabetes and obesity, among other things.
However, this appears to have displeased people and some experts in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, who perceive the decision as counter-productive, claiming that the sugar tax will make life more difficult for both producers and the average man.
The experts also encouraged the federal government to reconsider the situation in light of the views of the general public.
Another source of concern for these Nigerians is the fact that when commodity prices in the country spike, they seldom fall, exacerbating the country’s poverty.
