Nigeria holds Big Tobacco accountable with new sin tax reforms and legal strategies aimed at funding healthcare and curbing the industry’s deadly impact
Nigeria holds Big Tobacco accountable in a bold policy shift that could reshape the nation’s public health landscape.
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By allocating revenue from sin taxes—levies on tobacco, alcohol, and sugary drinks—towards health financing, the government is signalling a renewed commitment to protecting its citizens.
The decision aligns with long-standing advocacy from Nigerian health experts and the World Health Organisation (WHO), which have repeatedly urged governments to direct such funds towards combating non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
And the timing is critical. Recent findings show Nigerians spend nearly ₦1.92 trillion each year seeking treatment for NCDs—illnesses heavily driven by tobacco, alcohol, and sugar-laden products.
Tobacco alone contributes to 30 percent of all deaths nationwide and remains a leading cause of cancers, heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.
Globally, tobacco kills more than seven million people annually. In Africa, the toll reaches 300,000.
Despite this, eight in ten smokers reside in low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria, helping the world’s largest tobacco firms earn billions.
In 2015, six top cigarette companies made $62 billion in profits—more than the GDP of several small nations.
These profits continue to fuel aggressive marketing campaigns, youth-targeted promotions, lobbying efforts, and the deceptive branding of so-called “reduced risk” products such as vapes, nicotine pouches, and heated tobacco.
These alternatives, far from being solutions, often serve as entry points for a new generation of nicotine addiction.
Meanwhile, tobacco control funding in Nigeria remains abysmally low. In 2024, only ₦13 million was allocated to the Tobacco Control Fund—less than 5 percent of the ₦300 million minimum experts say is needed.
But momentum is building. Globally, legal actions are showing results. In 2025, Canada finalised a C$32.5 billion settlement with three tobacco giants—JTI-Macdonald, Rothmans Benson & Hedges, and Imperial Tobacco Canada.
The deal, which compensates for healthcare costs and social harm, follows similar efforts in the United States, where tobacco companies agreed to pay $206 billion under the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement.
These cases offer Nigeria a powerful roadmap. In 2023, the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) imposed a $110 million fine on British American Tobacco for public health violations—the country’s largest regulatory fine to date. It proves domestic legal action is possible.
To go further, experts say Nigeria must build robust legal frameworks, gather strong data on tobacco-related healthcare costs, and collaborate with civil society groups such as CAPPA and the Nigerian Tobacco Control Alliance.
Support from international networks and shared litigation strategies will also be essential to counter Big Tobacco’s legal defences.
Canada’s model includes a Tobacco Claims process, allowing individual victims and families to seek compensation without upfront legal fees.
Nigeria could adopt a similar framework, offering both justice and public support.
The most urgent challenge, however, may lie in regulating newer nicotine products.
Vapes and smokeless tobacco are marketed as safe alternatives but are hooking Nigeria’s young population at alarming rates.
Any future settlement or reform must dedicate resources to counter-marketing, education, and enforcement, excluding industry-backed “harm reduction” groups from participation.
Nigeria holds Big Tobacco accountable—not just through policy, but by taking aim at the roots of addiction, misinformation, and corporate impunity.
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If sustained with political will, legal strategy, and civil society pressure, this approach could fund healthcare, empower advocacy, and save countless lives.
