The Federal Government of Nigeria has been asked to increase taxes on tobacco products. This is to help reduce how much people use them and save the country a lot of money spent on healthcare each year.
An organisation called Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) said in a statement on Thursday that the tobacco industry is strongly marketing harmful products like vapes and e-cigarettes to Nigerians. They warned that tobacco is a major cause of serious illnesses.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has linked tobacco use to early death and many serious health problems like lung cancer, memory loss, sudden death in babies, birth defects, poor vision, stomach problems, skin damage, weak bones, and heart disease.
Using data from the Nigerian Tobacco Control Data Initiative, CAPPA said that 90% of tobacco is made in poor countries like Nigeria, which suffer the most from its production. Meanwhile, richer countries make profits. The Nigerian government says people in the country smoked over 20 billion cigarettes in 2018, and nearly 30,000 Nigerians die every year from diseases caused by tobacco.
According to a report by the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA), Nigeria spent ₦526.4 billion in 2019 on treating diseases caused by tobacco. Nigeria currently uses a tax system that includes a 30% tax on production costs, plus ₦84 tax per cigarette pack since June 2022. There are also taxes on shisha and other tobacco at ₦3,000 per litre or ₦1,000 per kilogram, increasing by ₦500 each year. Although a 50% tax raise was suggested in April 2023, it has not been put into action.
CAPPA asked the Nigerian government to follow the example of other African countries like Senegal, Kenya, and South Africa, which have stronger tobacco laws. Senegal recently raised tobacco taxes to 100%. Kenya has banned the import of vapes and other nicotine products because of rising addiction in young people. South Africa plans to ban smoking and vaping in public places because of their harmful effects.
CAPPA’s Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said the tobacco industry is targeting young Nigerians with products like vapes, which they claim are safer. He said these products are addictive and dangerous, and the industry is misleading people with their so-called “harm reduction” strategies.
He warned that tobacco-related illnesses put pressure on Nigeria’s healthcare system, cost the government a lot of money, lower work productivity, and increase poverty. He accused the tobacco industry of trying to create a new generation of smokers to replace those dying from tobacco use. He urged the government to raise tobacco taxes to 100%, which would help stop people from smoking and save lives and money.
Finally, CAPPA asked the government to use part of the tobacco tax money to promote health, prevent diseases, and fully enforce the National Tobacco Control Act. They also asked the government to resist pressure from the tobacco industry, which often tries to block important health policies.
