The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has raised alarm over the Nigerian government’s endorsement of Coca-Cola’s $1 billion investment pledge.
CAPPA claims this move comes just months after the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) indicted the company for misleading practices.
In a recent statement, CAPPA’s Media and Communication Officer, Robert Egbe, accused Coca-Cola of trying to “whitewash” its image.
He described the corporation’s history of broken promises and potential harm to public health as troubling.
This criticism follows Coca-Cola’s recent meeting with President Bola Tinubu, where the investment pledge was announced.
Zoran Bogdanovic, the CEO of Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company, expressed excitement about the investment.
“The Coca-Cola System has been part of Nigerian communities for over 70 years,” he said.
He added that the investment aims to foster economic growth and create jobs in Nigeria.
“Our investment goes beyond business growth; it’s about contributing to the well-being of the communities we call home,” Bogdanovic stated.
However, CAPPA highlighted that this pledge is a rehash of a commitment made three years ago during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
The previous investment was reportedly halted due to a “challenging business environment” in Nigeria.
CAPPA criticized the government for defending Coca-Cola despite its alleged negative impacts on public health.
The organization pointed to the company’s history of regulatory infractions and harmful practices.
A troubling trend, they argue, shows Coca-Cola’s consistent disregard for consumer safety.
In 2017, a Lagos High Court ruled that Coca-Cola’s products were unfit for consumption.
The court found that these products contained high levels of sunset yellow and benzoic acid.
These substances can combine with Vitamin C to form benzene, a known carcinogen.
As a result, the court mandated Coca-Cola to label its beverages with warnings against combining them with Vitamin C.
“Yet, the corporation has refused to comply with this directive,” CAPPA lamented.
This defiance raises serious questions about the company’s commitment to public health and judicial authority.
The CAPPA statement argued that such contempt should disqualify Coca-Cola from receiving any endorsement from the government.
Recently, the FCCPC found Coca-Cola guilty of engaging in deceptive trade practices.
The investigation began in 2019 and revealed misleading packaging and inconsistent pricing strategies.
“By endorsing Coca-Cola’s shady investment, the Nigerian government is undermining its own regulatory authority,” the CAPPA statement read.
CAPPA’s Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, emphasized that Coca-Cola’s products contribute to Nigeria’s public health crisis.
He noted the rise of non-communicable diseases like diabetes, obesity, and heart disease linked to sugary beverages.
Oluwafemi stated, “The question the Nigerian government must ask itself is what it stands to gain by endorsing a multinational corporation with a dark history of non-compliance.”
