By Deborah Onyofufeke
Research associate of the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa, Austin Iraoya, disclosed Monday, that Nigeria’s health system spends N526 billion naira annually on tobacco-induced diseases.

He added that a big chunk of this money is taken out of the expenditure pocket.

He further stressed that such expenses are a serious economic burden to Nigeria as the government makes only 10 percent of tobacco taxes from this expenditure

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He made this disclosure in Abuja at a press briefing marking the World Tobacco Day, 2022

Iraoya, also said that smoking kills about 29,000 Nigerians every year.

The Executive Director, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said because of the harmful effects of tobacco on the environment, some countries have relocated tobacco production to middle and lower-income countries

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He said“In the manufacturing of cigarettes, tobacco companies are believed to contribute 84 megatons of carbon dioxide equivalent to greenhouse gases.

“Disturbingly, because of stringent laws in the Global North, most of the tobacco corporations have relocated to low and middle-income countries like Nigeria.

He said despite the ban by the National Broadcasting Corporation, the Big Brother Naija show, a Pay-TV programme watched by adults and children alike, “smoking among housemates is allowed and even promoted.”

Sub-regional Coordinator for West Africa, Hilda Ochefu, urged the government to enforce the law on Designated Smoking Areas.