Tobacco: Federal Government Launches Control Website

The Federal Government has collaborated with the Development Gateway (DG), which is a data for development nonprofit organisation, and developed the Tobacco Control Data Initiative (TCDI) website, which creates a “ one-stop-shop” that would allow both stakeholders and the public access to relevant and up-to-date data on the advancement of the tobacco control legislation in the country.

In a statement in Abuja, Development Gateway stated that the TCDI was created as a response to the increased use of tobacco products in Nigeria as well as the various dangers that it portends for the public, especially young people.

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According to Development Gateway, the TCDI has become necessary as a result of the staggering statistics about the usage of it in Nigeria.

“At least 16,100 Nigerians die annually because of illnesses linked to tobacco use. 3.2 million Nigerians between the ages of 15 and 49 used tobacco in 2018; and about 200,000 tobacco users are women (NDHS, 2018). While tobacco consumption globally is decreasing, by 2030 the number of smokers in Africa is anticipated to rise by nearly 40% from 2010 levels. This is the largest expected increase in the world; particularly alarming when juxtaposed with the fact that Nigeria is a tobacco production hub and was the third largest exporter of cigarettes in 2018 (Africa’s Tobacco Epidemic, Tobacco Tactics, 2020).”

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The organisation also said that the TCDI would fill in the data gap in tobacco control that would enable legislators and decision makers to use the correct data to inform public on health policies.