• Home
  • Anti-Corruption
  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
  • National
    • Government
  • Security
  • Features
  • State
  • Event
    • PR Nigeria Award
  • E-Paper
Search
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
Sign in
Welcome! Log into your account
Forgot your password? Get help
Password recovery
Recover your password
A password will be e-mailed to you.
PRNIGERIA PRNigeria News
PRNIGERIA PRNIGERIA
  • Home
  • Anti-Corruption
    • ICPC Secures Conviction of Rector for Running Unaccredited Degree Programmes

      Engr Abba Babagana Dalori

      Engr Dalori Forfeits Galaxy Hospital, Petrol Station, Properties & Cash

      Chinese nationals jailed in Lagos

      Court Jails Nine Chinese Nationals for Cybercrime in Lagos

      ASUU

      Tackle Corruption, Institutional Decay – ASUU Charges FG

      EFCC Arraigns Bauchi Accountant General Over N8bn Fraud as Court Sentences…

  • Fact-Check
  • Economy
    • Nigeria Customs Partners China on Smarter Ports, Officer Training, Reforms

      Comptroller General Nigerian Customs Bashir Adewale

      Customs Moves Against 223 Importers in N379bn Permit Breach

      Bashir Adewale Adeniyi Customs Boss

      How Customs is Tightening Borders to Stop Illicit Cash Flows –…

      Customs boss, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi with NAFDAC DG Professor Moji Adeyeye

      Codeine, Tramadol Worth ₦20.5bn Seized as Customs-NAFDAC Cooperation Deepens

      Acting Controller General of Customs, Nigerian Customs Services, NSC, Ag. CG Bashir Adewale Adeniyi

      Adeniyi Inaugurates Lagos School Renovated by Nigeria Customs 

  • National
    • Abike Dabiri CEO NIDCOM

      NiDCOM Urges Restraint as Ghanaians Protest Against Nigerians Over Alleged Crimes

      Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar with the President of NIPR, Dr. Ike Neliaku during the unveiling of the National Reputation Management Group at Abuja on 15th October 2024.

      NRMG Charged to Lead Battle Against Fake News, Reframe Nigeria’s Image

      Police Officer

      Again, FCT Police Raid Criminal Hideouts, Arrest 66 Suspects

      IMPR Interns

      Unpacking Dr. Fatima Binta’s NIPR Vision: A Candid Chat with PRNigeria…

      Dr. Ahmadu Fatimah Binta

      Beyond the Clinic: Dr. Fatimah Binta Reveals PR’s Impact on Medicine

    • Government
      • ICPC Secures Conviction of Rector for Running Unaccredited Degree Programmes

        United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres

        Palestinian Statehood Is a Right, Not a Privilege – UN Boss,…

        Abike Dabiri CEO NIDCOM

        NiDCOM Urges Restraint as Ghanaians Protest Against Nigerians Over Alleged Crimes

        Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar with the President of NIPR, Dr. Ike Neliaku during the unveiling of the National Reputation Management Group at Abuja on 15th October 2024.

        NRMG Charged to Lead Battle Against Fake News, Reframe Nigeria’s Image

        Super Falcons wins WAFCON Trophy

        Falcon’s WAFCON Glory: Tinubu Committed to Sports Development – Minister

  • Security
    • 3,000 Terrorists Killed, 120,000 Surrendered in Two Years — Defence Chief

      Police Officer

      Again, FCT Police Raid Criminal Hideouts, Arrest 66 Suspects

      Troops Avert Terrorists’ IED Attack in Borno

      Military Troops during operations

      Troops Eliminate Terrorists, Disrupt Logistics Supply in Borno

      FGC Yauri schoolgirls

      Kidnapped FGC Yauri Schoolgirls Defy Odds, Graduate with Distinction from Top…

  • Features
    • Leon Usigbe

      Death, you can’t be Proud of this By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem 

      Tinubu’s Plateau Gambit – Yilwatda, 2027, and the Return of the…

      Ozumi and a recipient of a wheelchair

      Wheels of Hope: How a Simple Gift is Reshaping Lives at…

      Late Ex-President Muhammadu Buhari and Mansur Liman

      “Buhari: A Blunt, Honest Leader Who Laughed at His Own Predicament”

      Intelligence Synergy: Reshaping Nigeria’s Security Architecture, By Mukhtar Ya’u Madobi

  • State
    • ICPC Secures Conviction of Rector for Running Unaccredited Degree Programmes

      United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres

      Palestinian Statehood Is a Right, Not a Privilege – UN Boss,…

      Police Officer

      Again, FCT Police Raid Criminal Hideouts, Arrest 66 Suspects

      Troops Avert Terrorists’ IED Attack in Borno

      Military Troops during operations

      Troops Eliminate Terrorists, Disrupt Logistics Supply in Borno

  • Event
    • Founder Image Merchant Promotion Ltd, Yushau Shuaib, Nigeria Customs CG, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and the IPRA representative during the 2024 GWA awards in Belgrade, Serbia

      IPRA Celebrates 70th Anniversary, Hosts 2025 Golden World Awards in Ghana

      IMPR Interns

      Unpacking Dr. Fatima Binta’s NIPR Vision: A Candid Chat with PRNigeria…

      Dr. Ahmadu Fatimah Binta

      Beyond the Clinic: Dr. Fatimah Binta Reveals PR’s Impact on Medicine

      FGC Yauri schoolgirls

      Kidnapped FGC Yauri Schoolgirls Defy Odds, Graduate with Distinction from Top…

      Super Falcons wins WAFCON Trophy

      VON Apologizes for Erroneous WAFCON Report, Cites Possible Security Breach, Identifies…

    • PR Nigeria Award
  • E-Paper
Home Features Tobacco is Killing Nigerians and the Economy ‎By Suat Muhammad Sakwa
  • Features
  • National

Tobacco is Killing Nigerians and the Economy ‎By Suat Muhammad Sakwa

By
Suat Muhammad Sakwa
-
May 22, 2025
Suat Muhammad Sakwa
Suat Muhammad Sakwa

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:

  • ICPC Secures Conviction of Rector for Running Unaccredited Degree Programmes
  • Palestinian Statehood Is a Right, Not a Privilege – UN Boss, Guterres
  • NiDCOM Urges Restraint as Ghanaians Protest Against Nigerians Over Alleged Crimes

‎“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]

VISIT OUR OTHER WEBSITES
PRNigeria.com EconomicConfidential.com PRNigeria.com/Hausa/
EmergencyDigest.com PoliticsDigest.ng TechDigest.ng
HealthDigest.ng SpokesPersonsdigest.com TeensDigest.ng
ArewaAgenda.com Hausa.ArewaAgenda.com YAShuaib.com
  • TAGS
  • Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa
  • Tobacco
  • World Health Organization
Previous articleNo Sharia Case Against Zainab, Matter Resolved Unless New Evidence Emerges – Northern CAN
Next articleHow to Safeguard Global Peace, Drive Governance – Tuggar By Umar Farouk Bala
Suat Muhammad Sakwa
Suat Muhammad Sakwa

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

Abike Dabiri CEO NIDCOM

NiDCOM Urges Restraint as Ghanaians Protest Against Nigerians Over Alleged Crimes

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar with the President of NIPR, Dr. Ike Neliaku during the unveiling of the National Reputation Management Group at Abuja on 15th October 2024.

NRMG Charged to Lead Battle Against Fake News, Reframe Nigeria’s Image

Police Officer

Again, FCT Police Raid Criminal Hideouts, Arrest 66 Suspects

IMPR Interns

Unpacking Dr. Fatima Binta’s NIPR Vision: A Candid Chat with PRNigeria Interns

Dr. Ahmadu Fatimah Binta

Beyond the Clinic: Dr. Fatimah Binta Reveals PR’s Impact on Medicine

FGC Yauri schoolgirls

Kidnapped FGC Yauri Schoolgirls Defy Odds, Graduate with Distinction from Top Northern School

Officers of NSCDC Mining Marshals

NSCDC Mining Marshal Seals Illegal Lithium Mine in Kebbi, Uncovers Alleged ₦500bn Mineral Theft

NAF Air Personnel

NAF ‘Rattles’ ISWAP Terrorists with Decisive Blow in Lake Chad Region

Department of State Security Service DSS

Army, DSS-Backed Hybrid Forces Neutralize 45 Bandits in Niger Operation

Bashir Adewale Adeniyi Customs Boss

Nigeria Customs Partners China on Smarter Ports, Officer Training

Super Falcons wins WAFCON Trophy

VON Apologizes for Erroneous WAFCON Report, Cites Possible Security Breach, Identifies Culprit

The recovered AK-47 rifles

Police Operatives Eliminate 3 Bandits, Recover 10 AK-47 Rifles

Recent Posts

  • ICPC Secures Conviction of Rector for Running Unaccredited Degree Programmes
  • Palestinian Statehood Is a Right, Not a Privilege – UN Boss, Guterres
  • NiDCOM Urges Restraint as Ghanaians Protest Against Nigerians Over Alleged Crimes
  • 3,000 Terrorists Killed, 120,000 Surrendered in Two Years — Defence Chief
  • NRMG Charged to Lead Battle Against Fake News, Reframe Nigeria’s Image
  • Home
  • About
  • Adverts
  • Contact
© 2020 PRNigeria. All Rights Reserved.
Latest News
ICPC Secures Conviction of Rector for Running Unaccredited Degree ProgrammesPalestinian Statehood Is a Right, Not a Privilege - UN Boss, GuterresNiDCOM Urges Restraint as Ghanaians Protest Against Nigerians Over Alleged Crimes3,000 Terrorists Killed, 120,000 Surrendered in Two Years — Defence ChiefNRMG Charged to Lead Battle Against Fake News, Reframe Nigeria’s ImageAgain, FCT Police Raid Criminal Hideouts, Arrest 66 SuspectsTroops Avert Terrorists’ IED Attack in BornoTroops Eliminate Terrorists, Disrupt Logistics Supply in BornoIPRA Celebrates 70th Anniversary, Hosts 2025 Golden World Awards in GhanaUnpacking Dr. Fatima Binta's NIPR Vision: A Candid Chat with PRNigeria InternsBeyond the Clinic: Dr. Fatimah Binta Reveals PR's Impact on MedicineKidnapped FGC Yauri Schoolgirls Defy Odds, Graduate with Distinction from Top Northern SchoolFalcon's WAFCON Glory: Tinubu Committed to Sports Development - MinisterNSCDC Mining Marshal Seals Illegal Lithium Mine in Kebbi, Uncovers Alleged ₦500bn Mineral TheftNAF 'Rattles' ISWAP Terrorists with Decisive Blow in Lake Chad Region
X whatsapp