12, November 2025
The Nigerian Senate has taken a significant step towards improving the country’s healthcare system by advancing a bill that seeks to allocate excise duties collected from certain beverages towards health-related programs and infrastructure.
Sponsor of the bill, Senator Ipalibo Harry-Banigo, explained that the proposed law aims to redirect existing excise revenues towards improving healthcare delivery and promoting healthy living among Nigerians.
The bill’s primary objectives are to strengthen public health financing and tackle the growing prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension.
According to Senator Banigo, NCDs account for over 30% of annual deaths in Nigeria, and the proposed law would support nutrition and wellness education, facilitate early disease screening, and improve national health security.
While some concerns were raised about the need for legislation, the bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Health for further scrutiny, with a directive to report back within four weeks.
*Key Highlights:
– *Health-focused allocation*: Excise duties from non-alcoholic, carbonated, and sweetened beverages to be used for health-related programs and infrastructure.
– *Preventive health*: Strengthening public health financing and primary healthcare infrastructure.
– *Tackling NCDs*: Reducing the prevalence of non-communicable diseases through nutrition and wellness education, early disease screening, and improved national health security.
