Nigeria spends N634 billion annually on smoking-related diseases - ACPN
Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) declares Nigeria spends N634 billion annually on treatment and curing of smoking-related diseases. According to ACPN National Chairman Pharmacist Ambrose Ezeh, tobacco addiction accounts for 26,000 to 28,000 preventable deaths yearly in Nigeria. Ezeh made this revelation in a press statement Wednesday to commemorate the 2026 World No Tobacco Day with theme "Unmasking the Appeal: Countering Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction." Ezeh described tobacco as "one of the deadliest consumer products ever created" and called on the federal government to formulate policies aimed at eliminating nicotine from tobacco products. Beyond the devastating human cost, smoking-attributable diseases create significant economic burden through healthcare expenditures and productivity losses. With these statistics, tobacco represents one of Nigeria's most preventable public health challenges. Will you quit smoking, reduce tobacco consumption, or support anti-tobacco policies to address this national health crisis?