In the face of dwindling budgetary allocation to tobacco control in the country, stakeholders on August 21, 2023, participated in a capacity building workshop on tobacco control budget advocacy hosted by the Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance. The advocates have a common objective to drive up allocation to tobacco control in the national budget.

Chairman of the Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance, Akinbode Oluwafemi who spoke to the media at the sidelines of the workshop said the budget for tobacco control in the country has been abysmally low, he said the allocation had fallen by a whooping 50% from the previous year. Akinbode charged government to significantly increase allocation to tobacco control for the 2024 fiscal year to enable concerned ministries, departments and agencies continue to carry out life-saving tobacco control efforts.

Membership of the National Tobacco Control Budget Advocates (NATOBA) is drawn from the Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa, Civil Society Legislative Council of Nigeria, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa, Cedars Refuge Foundation, University of Abuja Tobacco-Free Club and the media.

Source: NTCA