By Kayode Falade
The Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) has asked that more funds should be allocated in the budget to ensure the implementation of the National Tobacco Control Act, 2015 and its Regulations of 2019.
This is contained in a statement by the Chairman of the NTCA, Mr Akinbode Oluwafemi, released in Abuja on Wednesday, April 19, 2023.
Oluwafemi also expressed concern over the 50 per cent drop in budgetary allocation on tobacco control in the 2022 and 2023 fiscal years.
He said this at the inaugural meeting of the National Tobacco Control Budget Advocates (NATOBA) in Abuja.
He said that the Appropriation Act provided the sum of N9.4 million in 2022 while N4.7 million was appropriated for the 2023 fiscal year.
According to him, this amount is a 50 per cent drop from the 2022 allocation. The unfortunate slash in the tobacco control budget has been greeted with dissatisfaction by the tobacco control community.
“The 2023 Appropriation Act makes provision for the sum of ₦4.7 million for the implementation of the National Tobacco Control Act, 2015 and its Regulations of 2019.
“This amount is a 50 per cent drop from the 2022 allocation. The unfortunate slash in the tobacco control budget has been greeted with dissatisfaction by the tobacco control community.
“Tobacco kills over eight million people globally, and in Nigeria, tobacco use is responsible for the loss of over 28,000 lives annually.
“In the face of this public health challenge, tobacco control measures designed to deal with the menace are grossly underfunded by the Federal Government,’’ he said.
The group’s boss said that NATOBA was inaugurated with the mandate to advocate for improved and sustained funding for tobacco control activities in the country.
According to him, members of the group are drawn from civil society and the media and will vigorously engage the Federal Government.
