Abuja: The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) and other stakeholders have called on the Federal Government to strengthen tobacco taxation in Nigeria as a means to protect public health and boost revenue generation. Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Rafsanjani, made the call in Abuja at a Validation Workshop on the Tobacco Excise Tax Simulation Report for Nigeria.

According to News Agency of Nigeria, Rafsanjani commended research partners from the University of Cape Town and the Tax Justice Network Africa for their support in conducting the study. He noted that tobacco consumption, particularly among youths and women, had become a growing public health and social concern in Nigeria. Rafsanjani highlighted the severe health consequences, including cancer and psychological imbalance, associated with tobacco products like shisha, which have become popular among young people.

Rafsanjani emphasized that while Nigeria introduced a tobacco tax regime in 2018, the current rates remain among the lowest in West Africa, making the country vulnerable as a dumping ground for tobacco products. He stressed that raising excise taxes would make tobacco less affordable, discourage use among children and youth, and increase government revenue for development. He also criticized multinational tobacco firms for exploiting farmers and failing to contribute meaningfully to healthcare.

John Thomi, Policy Office at Tax Justice Network Africa (TJNA), urged Nigeria to raise its tobacco taxes above the ECOWAS minimum to protect public health and generate more revenue for essential services. Thomi expressed concern over Nigeria’s lag in tobacco taxation despite ECOWAS’ harmonization efforts and emphasized the need for evidence-based tax policy on tobacco to strengthen control of tobacco consumption while boosting government revenue.

Mrs. Sarah Bwala, a representative of the Ministry of Finance, stated that Nigeria is undergoing a comprehensive review of excisable goods with a revised framework expected to come into effect in 2026. She emphasized the dual focus on strengthening revenue generation and protecting public health in line with global and regional commitments. Bwala highlighted Nigeria’s commitment to aligning with these standards to ensure fiscal policy contributes to sustainable development and the reduction of tobacco-related health risks.