As the world marks the 20th anniversary of the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has called on the federal government to enforce the country’s tobacco control laws.
CAPPA emphasised the need for stricter implementation of the National Tobacco Control Act (NTCA) 2015, the National Tobacco Control Regulations 2019, and the Regulation prohibiting the promotion and glamourisation of smoking in the film and music industry.
The Executive Director of CAPPA, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said the FCTC, adopted on February 27, 2005, has played a crucial role in regulating tobacco use globally. Nigeria, a signatory since 2004, ratified the treaty in 2005 and later enacted supporting laws to curb tobacco consumption.
Despite these policies, CAPPA raised concerns about poor enforcement, allowing the tobacco industry to exploit regulatory loopholes and target younger Nigerians with new, addictive nicotine products.
“Annually, over 8 million people die from tobacco-related diseases worldwide. In Nigeria, tobacco use kills 26,800 people yearly and causes thousands more cases of cancer, heart disease, and respiratory illnesses. The environmental impact is equally devastating, as tobacco waste pollutes our land, water, and air,” Oluwafemi warned.
He further accused the tobacco industry of using social media marketing and corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes to deceive the public and push new tobacco products like e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products (HTPs), and oral nicotine pouches, falsely branding them as safer alternatives.
To combat these challenges, CAPPA urges the Federal Government to increase the National Tobacco Control Fund (NTCF) budget from ₦10 million to at least ₦300 million.
According to Oluwafemi, this funding will empower the National Tobacco Control Committee (NATOCC) and the Tobacco Control Unit (TCU) under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
“The FCTC has saved millions of lives globally. By fully implementing its provisions in Nigeria, we can protect more citizens from the harmful influence of the tobacco industry,” Oluwafemi concluded.
