By Faith Alolade, JKNewsMedia Intern
TOBACCO CONSUMPTION in Nigeria remains a major public health concern, with weak enforcement of existing laws allowing the industry to target vulnerable populations.
Despite the establishment of the National Tobacco Control Act (NTCA) and accompanying regulations, tobacco-related illnesses continue to claim thousands of lives annually, with younger demographics increasingly exposed to harmful, unregulated nicotine products.
Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has called on the Nigerian government to strengthen enforcement of tobacco control laws as the world marks the 20th anniversary of the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).
The treaty, adopted on 27 February 2005, regulates various aspects of tobacco production, marketing, taxation, and trade to safeguard public health.
And with 183 countries, including Nigeria, as signatories, the FCTC is noted to be representing a global effort to mitigate the devastating impact of tobacco use.
Nigeria signed the treaty in 2004 and ratified it in 2005, leading to the enactment of the NTCA in 2015, the National Tobacco Control Regulations in 2019, and the recent regulation prohibiting the promotion of smoking in films and music.
However, Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director of CAPPA, highlighted that enforcement remains inadequate, allowing the tobacco industry to exploit regulatory gaps and lure more people into tobacco use through deceptive marketing strategies.
“More than 8 million people die globally each year due to tobacco-related diseases. In Nigeria, tobacco-related illnesses kill 26,800 annually, while many more suffer from cancer, heart disease, and chronic respiratory conditions.
The economic burden is enormous, with billions spent on healthcare and lost productivity,” Oluwafemi stated.
He also underscored the environmental hazards posed by tobacco cultivation and consumption, citing contamination of water, soil, and public spaces with toxic waste, cigarette butts, and microplastics.
Oluwafemi warned that the industry is aggressively introducing new products marketed as “safer alternatives,” including e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, snus, and oral nicotine pouches. “These products are not safe.
They contain carcinogenic substances and other harmful chemicals, making them a significant public health risk,” he said.
To address the issue, CAPPA is urging the government to increase funding for tobacco control measures. Specifically, it advocates raising the National Tobacco Control Fund’s allocation from N10 million to at least N300 million.
Oluwafemi stressed that proper funding would enable the National Tobacco Control Committee (NATOCC) and the Tobacco Control Unit (TCU) under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to enforce existing laws effectively.
“Government must prioritise public health by strengthening enforcement, funding anti-tobacco campaigns, supporting research on tobacco consumption trends, and ensuring strict compliance with the law.
Additionally, alternative livelihood programmes should be established for tobacco farmers to transition sustainably to other crops,” he added.
A statement issued by Robert Egbe, Media & Communications Officer at CAPPA, reaffirmed the organisation’s stance, stating that robust implementation of the FCTC in Nigeria would help shield millions from the dangers of tobacco use and strengthen public health protections.
