CAPPA Urges FG to Raise Tobacco Tax to 100% to Save Lives and Recover Billions

The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has urged the Federal Government to immediately increase the excise tax on tobacco products to 100 percent. The advocacy group stressed that this bold action could save countless lives while helping Nigeria recoup over N526 billion annually lost to healthcare expenses and productivity decline resulting from tobacco-related illnesses.

In a statement released yesterday, CAPPA expressed concern over the continued aggressive marketing tactics of the tobacco industry, especially toward young Nigerians. It noted the growing popularity of both traditional tobacco and emerging products such as vapes and e-cigarettes, despite their well-established health risks.

“Tobacco use remains a leading cause of numerous non-communicable diseases (NCDs), many of which are costly to treat and severely impact quality of life,” CAPPA said. Referencing World Health Organization (WHO) data, the group highlighted that tobacco is linked to a range of serious conditions including lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cardiovascular diseases, birth defects, vision loss, skin damage, and more.

CAPPA also cited alarming statistics from the Nigerian Tobacco Control Data Initiative, revealing that 90% of global tobacco production occurs in developing countries like Nigeria—nations that bear the burden of the environmental and health consequences, while wealthier nations profit. Government data shows that Nigerians smoked over 20 billion sticks of cigarettes in 2018, with nearly 30,000 tobacco-related deaths occurring annually.

A 2019 study by the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa (CSEA) found that Nigeria spent N526.4 billion on treating tobacco-induced diseases. CAPPA criticized the current excise tax structure—which includes a 30% ad valorem tax, a specific tax of N84 per cigarette pack, and varying levies on shisha and tobacco—as inadequate. Although the government proposed a 50% tobacco tax hike in April 2023, it has yet to be implemented.

CAPPA called on the government to adopt stronger tobacco control measures in line with global standards and follow the lead of other African nations making bold strides in public health protection.