The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to increase excise tax on tobacco products from 30 per cent ad-valorem to 50 per cent as part of measures to control tobacco smoking in the country.
This announcement was made by Dr Mangai Malau, Head, Tobacco Control Unit, Noncommunicable Disease Division, Federal Ministry of Health on Tuesday, at the National Tobacco Control Budget Advocates Meeting in Abuja.
Dr Malau disclosed that the Federal Government presently imposes a 30 per cent tax on tobacco products but aims to increase it to 50 per cent to meet the standard set by the World Health Organization (WHO).
He emphasized that funding for tobacco control must majorly come from taxation, and relevant stakeholders must apply tax measures appropriately to address the issues of tobacco control in the country.
“In effectively controlling tobacco and tobacco products in Nigeria, funding is a critical component. The WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) recognises this and clearly stipulates in Article 26…It is also important to state that funding is a major provision of the National Tobacco Control (NTC) Act,” said Dr Malau.
The National Tobacco Control (NTC) Act, passed in 2015, provides for the Tobacco Control Fund, which shall be used to fund tobacco control activities programmes and projects.
Dr Malau stated that this meeting is important as it will seek better funding for tobacco control to enable Nigeria to meet the objectives of the WHO FCTC and the NTC Act.
Dr Malau explained that tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke is a leading cause of mortality, morbidity, disability and impoverishment in the world.
“It is the greatest risk factor for non-communicable diseases like hypertension, stroke, cancers, diabetes and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases…tobacco causes more than eight million deaths annually around the world, with more than seven million of those deaths as a result of direct tobacco use. And about 1.2 million resulting from non-smokers being exposed to second-hand smoke,” he said.
The Chairman of Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA), Mr Akinbode Oluwafemi, stressed the need for Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to advocate for more budgetary allocation for tobacco control in the country.
Mr Oluwafemi urged CSOs to begin budgetary advocacy in July when the government’s ministries, departments and agencies would commence the 2024 budgets presentation and defence. He also emphasized the importance of forming alliances while carrying out the advocacy.
