A group of environmental activists, climate crusaders and public health advocates, the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has urged the Federal and state governments to prioritise healthy food policies to combat cancer and increase funding for tobacco control from a paltry N10 million to N300 million for effective tobacco control activities with a view to reducing ailments and deaths caused by consumption of tobacco products
By Edu Abade
The federal and state governments have been charged to develop and implement comprehensive healthy food policies aimed at reducing Nigerians’ exposure to ultra-processed foods, tobacco, excessive sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and salt consumption, all of which constitute high-risk factors driving the country’s alarming cancer burden and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) gave the charge on the sidelines of the 2025 World Cancer Day with the theme: United by Unique to celebrate the stories of every person affected by cancer. World Cancer Day is marked every year globally on February 4.
Noting that cancer remains a major public health issue in Nigeria, with an increasing number of new cases and deaths, the group revealed that the country records over 120,000 new cases of cancer annually, according to the National Institute for Cancer Research and Treatment, while the National Cancer Prevention and Control Plan (2018-2022) estimates that Nigerians spend N12 billion yearly on cancer treatment.
These figures, it said, underscore the urgent need for a multifaceted-policy approach and preventive measures to address the avoidable risk factors contributing to the country’s cancer as well as the NCD crisis.
It urged the government to, in particular, among other pro-public-health tailored actions, implement and enforce healthy food policies such as the implementation of national guidelines to reduce salt consumption, as well as an upward review of the Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) tax rate from the current N10 to N130 to achieve a substantial increase in the final retail prices of sugary drinks, curb excessive consumption and generate revenue for health interventions in line with global best practices.
CAPPA urged on the government to strictly regulate novel tobacco products, which are increasingly targeted at young people and to allocate more resources to the tobacco control fund to enhance enforcement efforts and public awareness campaigns.
It noted that while tobacco use remains the leading cause of cancer and cancer-related deaths worldwide, SSBs, on the other hand, are associated with a heightened risk of obesity-related cancers, such as kidney and colon cancers. Similarly, high salt intake is linked to an increased risk of stomach cancer and other health complications.
Executive Director of CAPPA, Akinbode Oluwafemi maintained that creating healthy food environments backed by effective regulations that enable healthy dietary decisions is a priority for tackling cancer-risk factors and NCDs.
He stated that this includes fiscal policies that limit the consumption of unhealthy diets, promote public adoption of healthier foods through targeted subsidies and strategic investments in agriculture for nutrient-rich crops, as well as discourage tobacco and novel tobacco product use.
Additionally, CAPPA highlighted the need for clear front-of-package labeling to inform consumers about the nutritional content of food products. It observed that public awareness campaigns are equally vital to educate citizens on the link between diet and cancer, fostering healthier eating habits across the population.
By integrating these strategies, it concluded, the Nigerian government can create a comprehensive framework that reduces cancer risk factors and fosters a culture of health and wellness.
Meanwhile, to mitigate increasing deaths and diseases induced by smoking and consumption of other tobacco products, CAPPA demands increased for tobacco control from N10 million in the 2025 Appropriation Bill to N300 million.
As the National Assembly continues its review of the N49.7 trillion budget (now raised to N54.2 trillion) presented by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on December 18, 2024, CAPPA enjoined the Senate and House of Representatives to raise the budgetary allocation for Tobacco Control in the 2025 National Budget from the current N10 million to N300 million.
In separate petitions to President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio and Speaker, Dr. Tajudeen Abbas, the group argued that allocating a minimum of N300m is essential to address the multifaceted challenges posed by tobacco use and support the effective implementation of the National Tobacco Control Act (NTCA) 2015.
Highlighting the danger of tobacco consumption and the stakes at hand, Oluwafemi noted that tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death worldwide, including in Nigeria.
A statement issued by the Media and Communication Officer of CAPPA, Robert Egbe quoted Oluwafemi as saying: “Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death worldwide, and Nigeria is no exception. Annually, tobacco-related illnesses claim 26,800 Nigerian lives and inflict debilitating conditions and non-communicable diseases like cancer, heart disease, and chronic respiratory diseases on thousands more.
“The economic toll is immense, costing billions in healthcare expenses and lost productivity. Additionally, tobacco cultivation exacerbates deforestation and soil degradation, while cigarette waste pollutes the environment.”
The challenge, he noted, is further compounded by the emergence of unregulated tobacco and nicotine products that target younger demographics and exploit gaps in the regulatory framework.
“These products, including electronic cigarettes and novel smokeless tobacco, are marketed as trendy despite their health risks. Moreover, tobacco companies in Nigeria continue to exploit weak monitoring systems to market their offerings aggressively on social media, as well as utilise corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives to gain favour with public health authorities, thereby undermining tobacco control laws and enticing more users into tobacco consumption.
“To counteract these threats, it is imperative that the Nigerian government intensify its efforts in regulation and control, recognising the grave public health and economic impacts of tobacco use. To be clear, the Federal Government must respond with proportional investment in the TCF for the effective regulation of tobacco consumption,” he added.
CAPPA pointed out that while the 2024 budget commendably increased allocation to the TCF to N10 million from N4.7 million in 2023, it remains insufficient for several critical reasons.
Oluwafemi said: “Firstly, operational costs consume a large portion of the funds. The National Tobacco Control Committee (NATOCC) require substantial finance running in millions for the coordination of its meetings, which should occur at least four times annually as stipulated by the National Tobacco Control Act (NTCA). The current allocation to the TCF, which provides support for these meetings, remains poor and, therefore, leaves virtually no financial room for this activity or other essential responsibilities of the NATOCC.
“Secondly, effective sensitisation campaigns need robust media outreach, deep community engagement, and active coordination with various stakeholders across the country. These activities require substantial funding to reach a wide audience and create impactful messages.
“Thirdly, there is a pressing need for alternative cropping initiatives to support tobacco farmers transitioning to sustainable crops. This shift involves continuous investment in training programs, provision of quality seedlings, and adequate financial support to ensure that these farmers can move to more sustainable and health-friendly agricultural practices.
“Furthermore, enforcement and monitoring activities are crucial to combat industry interference and ensure compliance with tobacco control regulations. This includes prosecuting violations, safeguarding smoke-free spaces and ensuring a ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, amongst other efforts. Adequate funding is also essential to equip and train enforcement teams on the front lines of this battle, ensuring that regulations are not only in place but actively upheld.”
To this end, CAPPA requested an increase the tobacco control allocation to a minimum of N300 million in the 2025 budget and ensure subsequent increments in future budgets.
The group further argued that this would allow the National Tobacco Control Committee (NATOCC) and Tobacco Control Unit (TCU) domiciled within the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to convene mandated meetings and implement robust public health campaigns to educate citizens about the dangers of tobacco use, fund research initiatives to monitor trends in tobacco consumption and evaluate policy impacts, enhance enforcement efforts, including monitoring compliance with existing laws and prosecuting violations and support alternative livelihood programs for tobacco farmers, ensuring that they transition sustainably to other crops.
Secondly, CAPPA called for the full operationalisation of the National Tobacco Control Fund (TCF), which was established under Section 8 of the Nigeria Tobacco Control Act (NTCA) 2015, as part of a comprehensive framework to combat the harmful effects of tobacco consumption.
The fund is drawn from various sources, including appropriations from the national budget, proceeds of fines for violations of tobacco laws, and contributions from relevant development bodies for tobacco control.
Explaining the TCF’s importance, Oluwafemi added: “By establishing the TCF, the federal government recognised the enormous public health risks posed by tobacco and the role of adequate financial resources to combat them. In fact, the TCF is intended to support vital activities such as public health campaigns, regulatory enforcement of the NTCA, research on tobacco trends, and alternative livelihood programs for tobacco farmers.
“However, since its creation, the fund has yet to achieve full operationalisation, leaving Nigerians vulnerable to the unchecked dangers of tobacco consumption and marketing.
“By fully operationalising the TCF, ensuring transparent and accountable management of the fund, as well as bolstering the institutional capacity of relevant public health authorities to exercise their mandate, the National Assembly will be leading the charge in safeguarding public health, reducing economic burdens and protecting the environment from the devastating impacts of tobacco.”
