Tobacco: Nigeria’s Struggle Against Deadly Addiction

Tobacco control faces a growing threat, as the tobacco industry increasingly targets young people through sleek packaging, flavoured products, and digital marketing; tactics designed to lure a new generation into addiction.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), over 146,000 Africans die annually due to tobacco-related diseases, and more than 6 per cent of adolescents aged 13 to 15 are already using tobacco products.

Acting WHO regional director for Africa, Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, warned that the adolescent brain is especially susceptible to nicotine addiction, adding that early exposure increases the risk of long-term complications like cancer, heart disease, and chronic respiratory illnesses.

This year’s World No Tobacco Day theme, “Unmasking the Appeal,” sheds light on how the tobacco industry disguises its products as fashionable, safe, or even harmless alternatives. From e-cigarettes marketed as cleaner options to colourful packaging that resembles snacks and toys.

Despite well-documented dangers and clear policy frameworks such as the National Tobacco Control Act (2015), Nigeria’s efforts to combat this epidemic are hobbled by underfunding. The Tobacco Control Fund (TCF), established to support prevention, enforcement, and public education, has been grossly under-resourced.

In the 2025 national budget, only N13 million was allocated to the TCF, up from N4.7 million in 2023. Health advocates argue that at least N300 million is needed annually for the fund to be impactful.

“It’s baffling. This is a country where tobacco kills over 26,800 people annually, and yet we are investing less than what some local councils spend on routine logistics,” said Execution Director of Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) Akinbode Oluwafemi.

According to Oluwafemi, the lack of adequate funding means no sustained public campaigns, weak enforcement of smoke-free laws, and limited support for smokers trying to quit. “If the government won’t act now, when will it? The longer we delay, the more lives we lose,” he added.

The coordinator of the Nigerian Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA), Olawale Makanjuola, went a step further by questioning the transparency around the TCF. “There is little public information on how previous allocations were used. The law mandates that all appropriated funds must be remitted to the TCF account. Where is that money, and how has it been spent?” he asked.

The concern isn’t just about increasing funding, but ensuring that what is allocated reaches its target. Advocates call for routine public disclosure of the TCF’s balance sheet, sources of funding, and actual expenditures.

Meanwhile, while national action lags, sub-national governments are showing what’s possible with political will. Ekiti State, on World No Tobacco Day 2025, declared its capital, Ado-Ekiti, a Smoke-Free City. The state’s health commissioner, Dr. Oyebanji Filani, described the move as a necessary intervention in protecting public health.

“Through this declaration, we’re saying no to the manipulation of our youth and yes to their right to grow up in clean, safe environments,” Filani said. Smoking is now banned in public spaces across Ado-Ekiti, including schools, motor parks, and government offices.

CAPPA’s ED praised the development, calling it a “defining moment” in Nigeria’s tobacco control journey. “This kind of leadership is what we need across the country. We must begin to treat tobacco not just as a personal choice, but as a public health emergency,” he said.

As the tobacco industry adapts with new tactics, including e-cigarettes and online marketing, Nigeria’s response must evolve too. WHO has recommended stronger policies, such as banning flavoured tobacco, regulating online advertising, enforcing plain packaging, and introducing early tobacco education in schools.

The NTCA, CAPPA, and international partners believe that without serious investment, these measures will remain ineffective.

As the country battles multiple health challenges, the need for a robust, transparent, and well-funded response to tobacco use, especially among youth, has never been more urgent.

For Nigeria, the message is clear: the real cost of tobacco isn’t just measured in naira, but in lives lost, futures stolen, and potential wasted.