ACPN Reveals Tobacco Health Cost as pharmacists say Nigeria spends ₦634bn yearly treating smoking-related diseases and losses

The Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), led by National Chairman Pharmacist Ambrose Ezeh, has revealed that Nigeria spends approximately ₦634 billion annually on the treatment and management of smoking-related diseases, raising fresh concerns over the country’s growing public health burden.

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The disclosure was made on Wednesday in a statement issued to mark the 2026 World No Tobacco Day, where the association called for stronger policy measures to curb nicotine addiction and reduce tobacco consumption nationwide.

ACPN Reveals Tobacco Health Cost as the organisation warned that tobacco remains one of the deadliest consumer products globally, contributing significantly to preventable deaths and long-term illness.

Pharmacist Ezeh stated that tobacco-related diseases account for between 26,000 and 28,000 deaths annually in Nigeria, describing the figures as a “serious and unacceptable public health challenge” requiring urgent intervention.

He further noted that beyond its human toll, smoking-related illnesses impose a heavy financial burden on the nation, with estimated costs arising from healthcare expenditure and productivity losses.

According to the association, the ₦634 billion annual impact reflects the combined strain on Nigeria’s healthcare system and its workforce, creating what Ezeh described as a “critical and avoidable economic drain.”

ACPN Reveals Tobacco Health Cost amid renewed calls for government action, with the association urging policymakers to adopt stronger regulations aimed at reducing nicotine content in tobacco products and discouraging consumption.

The statement also highlighted the broader theme of this year’s campaign, “Unmasking the Appeal: Countering Nicotine and Tobacco Addiction,” which focuses on exposing the marketing strategies that contribute to addiction, particularly among young people.

Ezeh described tobacco as a powerful driver of preventable illness, warning that its continued prevalence poses long-term risks to public health stability and economic productivity.

Health advocates have repeatedly raised concerns over smoking-related illnesses in Nigeria, but ACPN’s latest figures underscore the scale of the challenge and the urgency of coordinated national response.

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The association maintained that without stronger preventive measures, Nigeria risks deeper health system strain and escalating treatment costs in the years ahead.