NTCA, stakeholders advocate N3.4b to control tobacco activities

Ene Ikpa

Perturbed at the increasing rate of death caused by tobacco smoking, the Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) has advocated that to control tobacco activities, an estimated N3.4b be earmarked by the Federal Government to public health.

This was made known during the stakeholders high level session on tobacco tax earmarking in Nigeria held at Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and attended by senior officials from MDAs and advocates including NTCA, Environmental Right s Action, FOEN, CISLAC, UNIABUJA CEDARS Foundation and Centre for the study of Economics of Africa.

Mr Akinbode Oluwafemi of the NTCA, speaking at the event clamoured on the need for enough resources from the tobacco control fund to carry out activities to fight tobacco addiction and the ill-health that comes with the tobacco use in the country.

He confirmed that since about 16,800 Nigerians died annually from tobacco use, there is need for government to put necessary policies in place to be able to enforce and implement the law. “But there have not been enough budgetary allocation to the Federal ministry of health to carry out such activities.”

However, at the end of the stakeholders meeting, a communiqué was adopted with the following agreed upon.

“Tobacco is a leading cause of death globally, and the tobacco issue in Nigeria requires urgent attention especially with the various novels products and advertising methods that the tobacco industry are contriving.

“That the burden of tobacco induced diseases on public health of the country is high and a concerted effort is needed to address the spate of tobacco induced diseases (non communicable) diseases in Nigeria.

“That according to global best practices and recommendations of various experts, that high tobacco taxes is the single most effective and cost effective way to reduce tobacco use.

“That health care and health coverage in Nigeria is under funded. The national health coverage and indeed the tobacco control need more funding.

“That many countries in the world have successfully earmarked tobacco taxes and recorded tremendous success.”

In another related development, the outcomes and recommendations to every MDAs represented in the meeting to their offices for tobacco tax earmarking for public health and tobacco control include;

“The Federal ministry of health should as a matter of urgency set up the national tobacco control fund for financing tobacco control in the country.

“Federal ministry of health should coordinate and synergise efforts for the campaign for tobacco tax earmarking to happen.

“Civil society organisations should continue to put the conversations on tobacco tax earmarking in the public space.

“The tobacco taxation technological working group should take pragmatic action on tobacco tax earmarking.

“Demand for percentage earmarking should for a start be a little percentage as little as 5-10%.”