The National Chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Pharm. Ambrose Igwe Kammah Ezeh, has called on the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to adopt stronger and more decisive tobacco control measures, including policies that could eliminate nicotine from tobacco products or impose an outright ban on tobacco, warning that Nigeria can no longer afford the enormous health and economic burden associated with tobacco use.
Ezeh made the call during a press briefing to commemorate the 2026 World No Tobacco Day, observed globally on May 31, where he described tobacco as one of the deadliest consumer products ever created and a major contributor to preventable deaths worldwide.
According to him, the annual observance serves as a critical reminder to governments, healthcare professionals, civil society organisations and citizens of the urgent need to intensify efforts aimed at combating the tobacco epidemic and protecting populations from its devastating consequences.
“Tobacco remains one of the leading preventable causes of death worldwide. It kills up to half of its long-term users and is responsible for more than eight million deaths globally every year, including approximately 1.3 million non-smokers who die from exposure to second-hand smoke,” he stated.
The ACPN Chairman revealed that tobacco-related illnesses account for between 26,000 and 28,000 deaths annually in Nigeria, creating a significant public health challenge and placing immense pressure on the country's healthcare system and economic productivity.
He expressed concern over the growing prevalence of tobacco and nicotine use among young people, noting that an estimated 40 million children aged between 13 and 15 years across the world currently use at least one tobacco product.
Ezeh accused tobacco manufacturers of deliberately targeting young people through attractive flavours, deceptive packaging, aggressive branding and sophisticated marketing campaigns designed to lure them into nicotine addiction.
“The tobacco industry continues to target young people through carefully crafted campaigns designed to make harmful products appear attractive and harmless. This is creating a new generation of nicotine-dependent individuals,” he warned.
He further raised alarm over the increasing promotion of e-cigarettes and other nicotine delivery systems, which he said are often marketed as safer alternatives but ultimately sustain nicotine dependence while recruiting new users into a cycle of addiction.
Speaking on the theme of this year's commemoration, "Unmasking the Appeal: Countering Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction,"* Ezeh described it as both timely and relevant, saying it exposes the tactics employed by tobacco companies while drawing global attention to the urgent need to confront nicotine addiction at its root.
He noted that nicotine remains the primary psychoactive substance responsible for tobacco dependence and argued that despite Nigeria's existing tobacco control laws and regulatory frameworks, weak enforcement has continued to undermine their effectiveness.
“The continued prevalence of tobacco consumption demonstrates that our current interventions have not delivered the desired outcomes. Government complacency in addressing this epidemic only benefits the tobacco industry while thousands of Nigerians continue to lose their lives annually,” he said.
The ACPN leader therefore urged policymakers to pursue more far-reaching scientific and regulatory measures capable of significantly reducing the addictive potential of tobacco products. He also advocated stronger legislative restrictions on tobacco availability and consumption, stressing that bold policy actions are necessary to reverse the growing public health threat posed by tobacco use.
“A strong policy that eliminates nicotine from tobacco products or an outright ban on tobacco will permanently address many of these avoidable health hazards,” he declared.
Ezeh emphasized that tobacco offers no proven therapeutic or medicinal benefit to the human body and remains directly linked to a wide range of life-threatening illnesses, including cancers, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory disorders and several chronic health conditions.
Beyond its devastating health impact, he described tobacco as a major economic burden, disclosing that smoking-attributable diseases cost Nigeria an estimated ₦634 billion annually through healthcare expenditures and productivity losses.
“This is a burden that Nigeria can no longer sustain. Every year, families are devastated, healthcare systems are stretched and economic productivity is undermined because of diseases caused by tobacco use,” he noted.
On behalf of the leadership and members of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria, Ezeh called on the Federal Government to strengthen tobacco control policies, intensify enforcement of existing laws and implement bold reforms that will safeguard present and future generations from the dangers of tobacco and nicotine addiction.
“As we commemorate World No Tobacco Day 2026, we must recommit ourselves to protecting public health, reducing preventable deaths and building a healthier, tobacco-free Nigeria,” he said.
He also extended his goodwill and support to Nigerians battling tobacco-related illnesses, while encouraging families and caregivers caring for affected persons. He expressed optimism that with stronger political will, effective enforcement and sustained public awareness, Nigeria can significantly reduce tobacco consumption and its devastating consequences on public health.
The ACPN Chairman concluded by urging all stakeholders to unite in the fight against tobacco addiction and work collectively towards securing a healthier and tobacco-free future for all Nigerians.
