CAPPA seeks N300m budget for tobacco control, warns of public health crisis

The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has called on the National Assembly to increase the budgetary allocation for tobacco control from N10 million to N300 million in the proposed 2025 national budget.

The group made the appeal in a statement on Wednesday, January 21, adding that it had written separate petitions to Senate President, Godswill Akpabio and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, as lawmakers review the N49.7 trillion Appropriation Bill presented by President Bola Tinubu in December 2024.

Akinbode Oluwafemi, CAPPA’s executive director, stressed the urgent need for increased funding to address the devastating impact of tobacco use in Nigeria.

According to him, tobacco consumption remains a leading preventable cause of death globally, with Nigeria recording over 26,800 tobacco-related deaths annually.

He highlighted the broader health implications of tobacco use, including non-communicable diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and chronic respiratory illnesses, which he said, placed a significant burden on the nation’s healthcare system.

Oluwafemi also decried the financial and environmental toll of tobacco use, noting that billions of naira are lost annually in healthcare expenses and reduced productivity.

He added that tobacco cultivation contributed to deforestation and soil degradation, while cigarette waste polluted the environment.

“Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death worldwide, and Nigeria is no exception. 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.

The CAPPA director expressed concern about the rise of unregulated tobacco and nicotine products targeting younger demographics.

He accused tobacco companies of exploiting weak regulatory systems to aggressively market their products on social media and through corporate social responsibility initiatives, undermining public health efforts.