Tobacco is Killing Nigerians and the Economy By Suat Muhammad Sakwa
Each year, tobacco-related illnesses claim between 26,800 and 30,000 lives in Nigeria and drain an estimated ₦634 billion from the national economy.
These alarming figures, sourced from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA), point to a growing crisis fueled by lax enforcement of tobacco control laws, aggressive marketing by the tobacco industry—particularly targeting young people—and a flourishing illicit trade network.
Tobacco remains one of the most preventable causes of death and disability in Nigeria. A 2021 report by CSEA revealed that Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), commonly linked to smoking and air pollution, accounts for 29% of tobacco-related deaths.
Ischemic heart disease contributes 17.5%, while stroke accounts for 13%. Worryingly, passive smoking—especially among women and children—leads to 11.5% of these fatalities.
“Our wards are filled with patients in their 40s and 50s gasping for air,” said Dr. Chika Nwaeke, a pulmonologist at Lagos University Teaching Hospital. “Many of them picked up the habit as teenagers. Tobacco doesn’t just end lives—it dismantles households and puts immense pressure on our already overstretched health system.”
The economic implications are equally sobering. CSEA estimates that healthcare expenses directly linked to tobacco use cost Nigeria ₦526.4 billion annually, representing nearly 10% of the country’s total health budget.
Furthermore, the loss in productivity due to illness, disability, and premature deaths adds another ₦107.6 billion to the national burden.
To put this financial toll in perspective, Dr. Amina Bello, a health economist at the University of Ibadan, explained that ₦634 billion could finance the construction of twelve state-of-the-art tertiary hospitals or provide five million Nigerians with free malaria treatment for a year.
She emphasized that these numbers are likely conservative, as they do not account for indirect costs such as the emotional and financial toll on caregivers or the long-term economic loss resulting from orphaned children.
Although Nigeria enacted the National Tobacco Control Act in 2015—which prohibits the sale of tobacco to minors and bans smoking in public spaces—young Nigerians remain a major target of tobacco companies.
According to WHO data, 5.4% of Nigerian males aged 15 and above smoke daily. Meanwhile, the use of shisha and vaping devices—often perceived as less harmful alternatives—continues to grow in popularity, particularly among urban youth.
A 2023 survey by the Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) found that 67% of vendors located near schools in Lagos and Abuja openly sell cigarettes to minors.
Read Also:
“Tobacco companies exploit loopholes in enforcement by sponsoring concerts, lifestyle events, and social media campaigns,” noted Tunde Oni, spokesperson for NTCA. “They’ve rebranded addiction and death as symbols of freedom and rebellion.”
The federal government introduced Tobacco Control Regulations in 2019, which include the use of graphic warning labels and restrictions on advertising. However, implementation has been weak.
According to the National Tobacco Control Committee (NTCC), illicit cigarettes—often sold without health warnings and at lower prices—now make up 18% of Nigeria’s tobacco market.
“Customs seize between 30 and 40 containers of smuggled tobacco each year, yet corruption and porous borders remain major obstacles,” said Dr. Fatima Aliyu, Director of Enforcement at the NTCC.
“Without coordinated action across government agencies and stricter penalties, enforcement remains largely ineffective.”
Efforts to increase excise taxes on tobacco products—a strategy that has proven effective in many countries—have also stalled due to legislative inertia. This delay continues to weaken Nigeria’s broader public health response.
The crisis in Nigeria reflects a broader global trend, with low- and middle-income countries now home to 80% of the world’s smokers, according to WHO estimates.
While wealthier countries have successfully reduced smoking rates through taxation, public education, and regulatory reforms, Africa’s smoking population is projected to increase by 39% by 2030.
Public health experts are urging Nigerian leaders to take decisive action. They recommend strengthening law enforcement by conducting regular compliance checks, prosecuting offenders, and expanding smoke-free zones in public areas.
Increasing excise taxes on tobacco products to reach WHO’s recommended threshold of 75% of the retail price is also seen as a critical step.
Moreover, reinvesting savings from reduced tobacco-related healthcare costs into school-based education programs, mass media campaigns, and cessation support services could help prevent a new generation from falling into addiction.
Recently, the Federal Ministry of Health announced collaborations with Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to improve Nigeria’s tobacco control efforts. However, experts caution that true progress depends on resisting the influence of the tobacco industry at the community level.
“Every Nigerian—from parents and teachers to lawmakers—must recognize this as a national emergency,” said Dr. Zainab Abdullahi, WHO Nigeria’s Advisor on Non-Communicable Diseases. “Tobacco control is not just a health concern; it is a development priority.”
As Nigeria grapples with overlapping health and economic challenges, its response to the tobacco epidemic will serve as a critical measure of its commitment to safeguarding its citizens and building a resilient, sustainable future.
Suat Muhammad Sakwa is a 200-level Mass Communication student at Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria (MAAUN). [email protected]
