By Progress Godfrey, Abuja
Following the ongoing review of the N49.7 trillion 2025 budget by the National Assembly (NASS), Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), a Pan – African non-profit organisation, has urged NASS to increase the tobacco control budget.
CAPPA called on the Senate and House of Representatives to raise the budgetary allocation from the current N10 million to N300 million, to safeguard the lives of Nigerians
BusinessDay recalls that the appropriation Bill was presented by president Bola Tinubu on December 18, 2024.
But in two petitions on Monday — one to Godswill Akpabio, Nigeria’s Senate President and the other to Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House of Representatives, made available to journalists on Tuesday, CAPPA emphasised the importance of a N300m allocation to address the multifaceted challenges posed by tobacco, stating that it would also support the effective implementation of the National Tobacco Control Act (NTCA) 2015.
On the danger of tobacco consumption and the risks at hand, Akinbode Oluwafemi, CAPPA’s executive director, noted that tobacco use remained the leading preventable cause of death worldwide, including in Nigeria.
He informed that annually, tobacco-related illnesses claim 26,800 Nigerian lives and inflict debilitating conditions and non-communicable diseases like cancer, heart disease, and chronic respiratory diseases on thousands more.
“The economic toll is immense, costing billions in healthcare expenses and lost productivity. Additionally, tobacco cultivation exacerbates deforestation and soil degradation, while cigarette waste pollutes the environment,” Oluwafemi said.
According to him, the challenge is further worsened by the emergence of unregulated tobacco and nicotine products that target younger demographics and take advantage of regulatory loopholes.
Oluwafemi said the products, which include electronic cigarettes and novel smokeless tobacco, are marketed heavily through social media and the compnies utilise corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives to gain favour with public health authorities, undermining tobacco control laws and enticing more users into tobacco consumption.
He stressed the need for government to intensify efforts in regulation and control, given the public health and economic impacts of tobacco use.
The NGO observed that the 2024 budget increased TCF’s allocation to N10 million a raise from the N4.7 million directed to it in 2023, but added that the increase was not enough.
Oluwafemi said: “Firstly, operational costs consume a large portion of the funds. The National Tobacco Control Committee (NATOCC) requires substantial finance running in millions for the coordination of its meetings, which should occur at least four times annually as stipulated by the National Tobacco Control Act (NTCA). The current allocation to the TCF, which provides support for these meetings, remains poor and, therefore, leaves virtually no financial room for this activity or other essential responsibilities of the NATOCC.
“Secondly, effective sensitisation campaigns need robust media outreach, deep community engagement, and active coordination with various stakeholders across the country. These activities require substantial funding to reach a wide audience and create impactful messages.
“Thirdly, there is a pressing need for alternative cropping initiatives to support tobacco farmers transitioning to sustainable crops. This shift involves continuous investment in training programs, provision of quality seedlings, and adequate financial support to ensure that these farmers can move to more sustainable and health-friendly agricultural practices.”
He also emphasised the need for enforcement and monitoring, saying; “This includes prosecuting violations, safeguarding smoke-free spaces and ensuring a ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, amongst other efforts. Adequate funding is also essential to equip and train enforcement teams on the front lines of this battle, ensuring that regulations are not only in place but actively upheld.”
CAPPA, therefore, asked the upper and lower chambers to increase the tobacco control allocation to a minimum of N300m in the 2025 budget and ensure subsequent increments in future budgets.
The CSO believes that this would allow the NATOCC and TCU domiciled within the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to convene meetings and implement public health campaigns to educate citizens about the dangers of tobacco use, fund research initiatives to monitor trends in tobacco consumption and evaluate policy impacts, enhance enforcement efforts, including monitoring compliance with existing laws and prosecuting violations and support alternative livelihood programs for tobacco farmers, ensuring that they transition sustainably to other crops.
CAPPA also called for the full operationalisation of the National Tobacco Control Fund, stating that by doing so, the National Assembly would be leading the charge in safeguarding public health, reducing economic burdens, and protecting the environment from the devastating impacts of tobacco.