By Mashe Umaru Gwamna
The federal government said it has commenced implementation of the new tax on tobacco products.
The Minister for State Health, Olorunimbe Mamora, stated this at a media briefing on World No Tobacco Day yesterday in Abuja.
Mamora disclosed that, the new three-year tax regime took effect from June 1.
He said that the new tax is in compliance with the National Tobacco Act (2015) and Regulations (2019).
The minister pointed out that, government has commenced screening and issuing operational licences to qualified tobacco businesses in the country with a view to profiling and monitoring the industry activities nationwide.
“The new licensing guideline requires strict adherence to ensuring that a unit package of tobacco products has the approved texts and graphic warning messages that will make users aware of the harmful effects of tobacco use.
“The policy includes an ad valorem tax rate increase from 10 per cent to 30 per cent.
“In addition to 30 per cent ad valorem, the government raised the excise rate on cigarettes from N58 to N84 per pack of 20 sticks.
“The government will further increase it to N94 per pack in 2023 and then N104 per pack in 2024.”
The minister further explained that, shisha was taxed at N3,000 per litre and N1,000 per kilogramme.
“It will increase yearly by N500. This pro-health tax is an effective public health control measure against behavioural risk factors as it can reduce demand and consumption of tobacco products.
“It will also prompt tobacco users to switch spending their resources on tobacco products to healthy alternatives such as education, health and others.”
He noted that the World Health Organization (WHO), earlier said the tobacco epidemic was one of the biggest public health threats the world had ever faced, killing up to half of its users, with more than eight million deaths recorded annually worldwide.
“More than seven million deaths result from direct tobacco use, while about 1.2 million are from non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke.
“About 4.5 million Nigerians 15 years and older use tobacco products, and about 3.1 million are current smokers.”
Similarly, The World Health Organisation (WHO)Country Representative (WR) to Nigeria, Walter Mulombo, praised the federal government for taken a bold step to control the negative impact of tobacco in country by promoting health.
He said that about 30,000 Nigerians die annually of tobacco-related diseases.
The number is more than those killed by COVID-19, which stood at 3,144 in the country so far.
Mulombo explained tobacco as a slow and silence ticking bomb to those taking it, explaining that, “over 30,000 Nigerians die of tobacco-related diseases every year.”
He said diseases like cancer,Lungs disease amongst others through tobacco .
“ It is never late to take that good step pro-health taxes because we to emphasized on the health disaster”.
He said “ When we comprise tobacco issues we comprise on our future generations”,he said .
The WHO Representative pledge for continuous support and we all need to provide an environment and earth that is not harmful to us .
The Project officer, Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance, NTCA, Chibuike Nwokorie, in his goodwill message said,from the farming of tobacco to it consumption there is no benefit.
He however explained dangers and effect of tobacco in our environment and air space noting on the need to get our environment and air space free and clean.
He also assured that NTCA will continue to keep it partnership and collaboration with critical stakeholders to ensure the environment is free from tobacco smoke.
Meanwhile, The theme for this year: ‘Tobacco, a Threat to our Environment’, is aimed at creating awareness about the environmental impact of tobacco and to educate people on the dangers and health risks of tobacco use. Ultimately, to prevent and control the use of tobacco around the world.
