Nigeria launches tobacco control website

The Federal Government in collaboration with Development Gateway (DG), a data for development nonprofit organisation, has developed the Tobacco Control Data Initiative (TCDI) website, which creates a “ one-stop-shop” that would allow stakeholders and the public access the relevant and up-to-date data to advance tobacco control legislation in the country.

In a statement in Abuja, Development Gateway said the TCDI is in response to the increased use of tobacco products in Nigeria and the various dangers it portends for the public, especially young people.

According to the Development Gateway, the TCDI has become necessary due to the staggering statistic about tobacco use in Nigeria.

“At least 16,100 Nigerians die annually because of illnesses linked to tobacco use. 3.2 million Nigerians between the ages of 15 and 49 used tobacco in 2018; and about 200,000 tobacco users are women (NDHS, 2018). While tobacco consumption globally is decreasing, by 2030 the number of smokers in Africa is anticipated to rise by nearly 40% from 2010 levels.

Speaking further, the Development Gateway said the website would make use of primary and secondary data to present tobacco control information in a user-friendly format with graphs, facts and success stories.

Among the partners working on the dashboard are the Federal Ministry of Health, University of Cape Town Research Unit on the Economics of Excisable Products (REEP) and the Development Gateway.