Winning The Fight Against Tobacco Threat In Nigeria

Winning The Fight Against Tobacco Threat In Nigeria

Saulounersi a Tobacco plant from the Nicotiana genus in the Solanaceae family was originally native to the Americas.

It was used by Indigenous people for ceremonial, medicinal, and recreational purposes long before the arrival of Europeans.

By the 16th century, tobacco had spread across Europe, largely believed to have medicinal benefits.

The Europeans introduced it to Africa and Asia through trade and colonization:

The use of tobacco commenced in Nigeria during the British colonial rule.

By the early 20th century, tobacco was already gaining attraction as a commercial crop.

The game-changer came in 1932 when the first cigarette manufacturing factory was established in Nigeria.

Tobacco farming became a livelihood for many rural communities in northern Nigeria especially Zaria and Katsina, while aggressive advertising and media promotion normalized smoking in Nigerian society.

With little public awareness of its health implications, tobacco use spread rapidly.

However, what seemed like economic progress brought about a growing health crisis.

According to medical experts, tobacco is one of the world’s leading causes of preventable illness and death, contributing to diseases such as lung cancer, heart disease, stroke, and chronic respiratory conditions.

The main ingredient, nicotine, is a highly addictive chemical that leads to dependency and makes quitting incredibly difficult.

Research revealed that tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, with at least 69 known to cause cancer.

In addition to direct users, non- smokers especially women and children suffer from secondhand smoke exposure, increasing their risks of respiratory diseases.

Tobacco use brings severe economic consequences as Nigeria spends billions in treating smoking-related illnesses.

According to a recent data, tobacco use costs Nigeria over N187.8 billion annually in healthcare and lost productivity.

Environmentally, tobacco farming contributes to deforestation, soil depletion, and water pollution.

Recognizing these dangers, the World Health Organization, WHO launched World No Tobacco Day, observed every year on May 31.

The day promotes awareness of tobacco’s health risks and calls for strong public health policies to reduce consumption.

The Global Adult Tobacco Survey in 2012 estimated that over 4.5 million Nigerians use tobacco products.

More recently, as of 2022, tobacco smoking among adults aged 15 and older was 2.9 percent.

This translates to 3.4 million active adult smokers, with over 26,000 annual deaths attributed to tobacco-related diseases.

Alarmingly, the tobacco industry has shifted its focus to youths.

According to the Global Youth Tobacco Survey, the rate of use among adolescents aged 13 to 15 in Nigeria ranges from 13.1 percent to 23.3 percent.

This trend is worsened by manipulative marketing tactics using flavored products, attractive packaging, social media influencers, and online advertising to make smoking seem fashionable and harmless.

Though the National Tobacco Control Act of 2015 and Nigeria’s ratification of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control were significant policy steps, implementation has been inconsistent.

Furthermore, low taxation on tobacco products keeps them affordable and accessible to youths.

To win the fight against tobacco, efforts must go beyond government policy as Public education is key.

Schools should incorporate anti- tobacco curricula; parents, teachers, and religious leaders must have open discussions with young people; healthcare providers should alsi offer cessation support; and social media influencers can help counter pro-smoking messages with real-life stories of recovery and resilience.

This year’s observance is a call to protect the children, enforce the laws, promote public awareness, and build a tobacco-free Nigeria.

Ogochukwu Okoronkwo, Edited By Grace Namiji