Pharmacists under the platform of Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), have declared that Nigeria spends about N634 billion annually in treatment and curing of smoking-related diseases.
ACPN National Chairman, Pharmacist Ambrose Ezeh, made this revelation on Wednesday in a press statement to commemorate the 2026 World No Tobacco Day.
Ezeh while speaking on the theme of this year’s conference, “Unmasking the Appeal: Countering Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction”, described tobacco as one of the deadliest consumer products ever created.
He said that tobacco is one of the major contributors to preventable deaths globally.
Ezeh revealed that tobacco-related illnesses account for 26,000 to 28,000 deaths annually in Nigeria.
He said that this creates significant public health challenge in the country.
He further revealed that smoking-related diseases cost Nigeria an estimated N634 billion annually through healthcare expenditures and productivity losses.
He added the federal government should formulate policies aimed to eliminate nicotine from tobacco products.
“Tobacco-related illnesses account for between 26,000 and 28,000 deaths annually in Nigeria.
“Beyond its devastating health impact, smoking-attributable diseases cost Nigeria an estimated N634 billion annually through healthcare expenditures and productivity losses,” Ezeh stated.
