Breaking – Heavy Taxes Coming For Nigerian Tobacco Smokers

Heavy taxation may be on the way for tobacco smokers in Nigeria as a way of making the tobacco control policies work in the country.

The Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) is in the forefront of the drive and is urging the Federal Government to immediately raise the tobacco taxes from the current 20 percent to 70 percent .

The alliance equally at least five percent of the taxes earmarked  for sustenance of the tobacco control activities in the country.

A high level stakeholders meeting, held in Abuja, with officials from government agencies and other stakeholders on Tobacco control made these submissions.

The government agencies that sent representatives to the meeting included the Federal Ministry of Finance, Nigeria Customs Service, Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trades and Investment, Budget Office of the Federation, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Centre for the Study of Economics of Africa; and the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), among others.

They stressed the importance of the establishment of a Tobacco Control Fund for successful implementation of tobacco control policies in the country.

Speaking during the sessions, ERA/FoEN Deputy Executive Director, Dr. Akinbode Oluwafemi, said the alliance is using the opportunity to set the agenda for the newly inaugurated ministers of health and their colleagues in other ministries to implement the National Tobacco Control Act (NTCA) 2015.

According to the World Health Organbisation (WHO) there are some 4000 known chemicals in tobacco smoke; at least 250 of which are known to be harmful and more than 50 known to cause cancer in humans.

The agendy also adds that tobacco smoke in enclosed spaces is breathed in by everyone, exposing smokers and nonsmokers alike to its harmful effects.

Around 700 million children, or almost half of the world’s total, breathe air polluted by tobacco smoke. Over 40% of children have at least one smoking parent. In 2004, children accounted for 31% of the 600 000 premature deaths attributable to second-hand smoke.

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In adults, second-hand smoke causes serious cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, including coronary heart disease and lung cancer. In infants, it causes sudden death syndrome. In pregnant women, it causes low birth weight, WHO says.

The global health body adds that neither ventilation nor filtration, even in combination, can reduce tobacco smoke exposure indoors to levels that are considered acceptable. Only 100% smoke-free environments provide effective protection. Contrary to common belief, smoke-free environments are widely supported by both smokers and nonsmokers.

“Having a smoke-free environment often saves money for bars and restaurant owners, reducing their risks of fire and consequently their insurance costs. It often results in lower renovation, cleaning and maintenance costs, too.

Article 8 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, recognizes that exposure to tobacco smoke causes death, disease and disability, and asks countries to adopt and implement legislation that provides protection from second-hand smoke”, it said..