By Gabriel Ameh
Nigeria’s tobacco control programme is facing a funding shortfall, with its 2026 budget allocation reportedly reduced to ₦9.2 million from ₦13 million in 2025, far below the ₦300 million annual minimum proposed by public health advocates.
Robert Egbe, a tobacco control advocate and Media and Communications Officer at Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), said the allocation was inadequate to support effective tobacco regulation, public education and enforcement of existing laws.
In an article dated October 18, 2026, Egbe warned that insufficient funding could weaken efforts to protect Nigerians, particularly children and young people, from tobacco and nicotine addiction.
He argued that government agencies responsible for tobacco control need adequate resources to monitor compliance, enforce smoke-free regulations, restrict tobacco advertising and sponsorship, and respond to emerging products such as electronic cigarettes, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches.
Concerns Over Proposed Tobacco Law Amendments
Egbe also raised concerns about proposed amendments to the National Tobacco Control Act (NTCA) 2015, alleging that changes to two bills, HB 1151 and HB 47, went beyond the versions presented during a public hearing in November 2024.
According to him, the original four pages of proposed amendments were transformed into a 31-page document containing provisions that differed from those publicly discussed.
He alleged that the consolidated proposals would weaken existing protections and establish a less restrictive framework for emerging tobacco and nicotine products.
The claims raise questions about transparency in the legislative process and the need to protect public health policymaking from commercial interests.
However, the allegations concerning the amendment process and the contents of the consolidated bill require independent verification against the relevant legislative documents and official records.
Why Tobacco Control Needs More Funding
The National Tobacco Control Act provides a framework for government action on tobacco-related risks. Its implementation requires coordination among relevant institutions, public awareness campaigns, research, monitoring and enforcement.
Egbe said the National Tobacco Control Committee (NATOCC) and the Tobacco Control Unit of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare need sufficient funding to carry out their responsibilities effectively.
He argued that inadequate funding limits the government’s ability to educate the public, monitor violations and enforce restrictions on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship.
The article also cited the challenge posed by tobacco and nicotine companies, which have substantial resources for marketing, public relations and efforts to influence public debate.
Egbe maintained that public health institutions should not be left without the resources needed to respond to those activities.
Health and Economic Consequences
Tobacco use is associated with serious health conditions, including cancers, cardiovascular diseases and chronic respiratory illnesses. The resulting burden extends beyond individuals to families, healthcare services and the wider economy.
The article cited an estimate of approximately 26,800 tobacco-related deaths annually in Nigeria. It also noted that tobacco use kills more than seven million people globally each year, including non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke.
Nicotine is highly addictive, with particular risks for children, adolescents and young adults.
Egbe warned that without stronger regulation and sustained public education, young Nigerians could become increasingly vulnerable to marketing strategies that present tobacco and nicotine products as fashionable or less harmful.
Call for ₦300m Annual Allocation
CAPPA had called on the National Assembly in January 2025 to increase the national tobacco control allocation to at least ₦300 million annually, arguing that the existing provision was insufficient for the responsibilities established under the 2015 law.
Egbe reiterated that demand, describing ₦300 million as a minimum starting point for an effective national tobacco control programme.
He called for stronger protection of Nigeria’s tobacco control framework against conflicts of interest and commercial interference, alongside adequate funding for public health institutions.
The central concern, he argued, is whether Nigeria can effectively protect its citizens from tobacco-related harm when the agencies responsible for regulation and enforcement operate with limited resources.
Source: Robert Egbe, Media and Communications Officer, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA). The article was dated October 18, 2026.
