Abstract
Although smoking prevalence rates remain far lower in Nigeria than in Europe, they are rising, particularly as multinational tobacco companies target youth and work to regain the revenues they are losing in Europe and north America. This article recounts 25 years of Nigeria's tobacco control policy and presents every bit of evidence available about smoking prevalence rates and trends that show troubling increases, especially among youth. It concludes with recommendations for urgent and comprehensive action in Nigeria and by the World Health Organization (WHO) organized largely on a framework provided by the WHO.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
World Health Organization. (2008) Report on the global tobacco epidemic, http://www.who.int/tobacco/mpower/2008/en/, accessed 25 May 2010.
Bjartveit, K. and Tverdal, A. (2005) Health consequences of smoking 1–4 cigarettes per day. Tobacco Control 14: 315–320.
Adedeji, O.O. (2000) Diet, alcohol consumption, smoking and exercise as determinants of blood lipid levels of Nigerians. West African Journal of Medicine 19 (4): 283–285.
Onadeko, B.O., Awotedu, A.A. and Onadeko, M.O. (1987) Smoking patterns in students of higher institutions of learning in Nigeria. African Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences 16 (1): 9–14.
Desalu, O.O., Olokoba, A.B., Danburam, A., Salawu, F.K. and Issa, B.M. (2008) Epidemiology of tobacco smoking among adults population in north-east Nigeria. The Internet Journal of Epidemiology 6 (1), http://www.ispub.com/journal/the-internet-journal-of-epidemiology/volume-6-number-1.html.
Carpenter, C.M., Wayne, G.F., Pauly, J.L., Koh, H.K. and Connolly, G.N. (2005) New cigarette brands with flavors that appeal to youth: Tobacco marketing strategies. Health Affairs 24 (6): 1601–1610.
Saul, S. (2008) Opposition to menthol cigarettes grows. The New York Times 5 June, http://tinyurl.com/56lxhj, accessed 5 June 2010.
Next Community. (2011) The tobacco control bill. Editorial, http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Opinion/Columns/5684704-148/story.csp, accessed 30 September 2011.
Harries, A.D., Chugh, K.S. and Neumann, T. (1986) Smoking habits and disease patterns amongst hospital patients in north-east Nigeria. Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 89 (1): 37–41.
Sijuwola, O.A. (1989) Dimensions of personality and smoking behavior. African Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences 18 (2): 105–108.
Obot, I.S. (1990) The use of tobacco products among Nigerian adults: A general population survey. Drug Alcohol Dependence 26 (2): 203–208.
Shafey, O., Dolwick, S. and Guindon, G.E. (eds.) and American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA (2003) Tobacco control country profiles, http://www.ash.org.uk/files/documents/ASH_685.pdf, accessed 24 June 2011.
Ibeh, C.C. and Ele, P.U. (2003) Prevalence of cigarette smoking in young Nigerian females. African Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences 32 (4): 335–338.
Alagh, T.B. and Omokhodion, F.O. (2004) Health related practices of students of the University of Ibadan. African Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences 33 (2): 109–114.
Salawu, F., Danburam, A., Agbo, J. and Onye-eri, K. (2007) Awareness of the risk of cigarette smoking among patients in north-east Nigeria. Sahel Medical Journal 10 (1): 29–33.
Omokhodion, F.O. and Faseru, B.O. (2007) Perception of cigarette smoking and advertisement among senior secondary school students in Ibadan, south-western Nigeria. West African Journal of Medicine 26 (3): 206–209.
Federal Ministry of Health, Abuja Nigeria. (2011) Official gazette of Nigeria. (FGP 71/52007,500(OL24) Reporting period: Oct. 2005 – Oct 2008, http://www.who.int/fctc/reporting/nigeria_report.pdf, accessed 1 October 2011.
Aghaji, M.N. (2008) Cigarette smoking and quitting among young adults in Enugu, Nigeria. Nigerian Medical Journal 49 (2), http://www.ajol.info/index.php/nmj/article/view/51959, accessed 28 December 2011.
Osungbade, K.O. and Oshiname, F.O. (2008) Determinants of cigarette smoking among senior secondary school students in a rural community of south-west Nigeria. Nigerian Journal of Medicine 17 (1): 40–44.
Ojo, O.O., Lawani, A.O., Adedigba, M.A. and Nwhator, S.O. (2008) Influences on smoking behavior of adolescents and young adults in a Nigerian university. African Journal of Drug and Alcohol Studies 7 (2): 89–99.
Adejuwon, G.A. (2009) Tobacco use and second hand smoke as risk factors for diseases in Nigeria: Implications for collaborative research and multilevel tobacco control strategies. African Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences 38 (Supplement 2): 21–29.
Hussain, N.A., Akande, T.M. and Adebayo, O. (2009) Prevalence of cigarette smoking and the knowledge of its health implications among Nigerian soldiers. East African Journal of Public Health 6 (2): 168–170.
Salaudeen, A.G., Akande, T.M. and Musa, O.I. (2009) Cigarette smoking prevalence and awareness of health problems of tobacco use among students of colleges of education in a north-central State of Nigeria. Nigerian Medical Practitioner 55 (6): 101–105.
Aina, B.A., Oyerinde, O.O., Joda, A.E. and Dada, O.O. (2009) Cigarette smoking among healthcare professional students of University of Lagos and Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-araba, Lagos, Nigeria. Nigerian Quarterly Journal of Hospital Medicine 19 (1): 42–46.
National Institute for Health and Welfare. (2011) Statistics on youth smoking in different countries, http://tiny.cc/wierp, accessed 10 May 2011.
World Health Organization. (2010) Parties to the who framework convention on tobacco control, http://www.who.int/fctc/signatories_parties/en/index.html, accessed 14 October 2010.
Walker, A. (2008) Nigeria takes on tobacco giants. BBC News, 14 January, http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7183018.stm, accessed 14 October 2010.
TumeAhemba. (2008) Nigerian state withdraws $23 bln tobacco lawsuit Reuters, http://www.reuters.com/article/2008/02/25/nigeria-tobacco-idUKL2545558120080225, accessed 1 October 2011.
ThisDay Newspaper. (2011) The President and the tobacco control bill. Editorial, 26 September 2011, http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/the-president-and-the-tobacco-control-bill/99327/, accessed 30 September 2011.
Nigeria Demographic Health Survey. (1990) http://www.measuredhs.com/pubs/pub_details.cfm?ID=76&ctry_id=30&SrchTp=psummary, accessed 10 May 2011.
Nigeria Demographic Health Survey. (1999) http://www.measuredhs.com/aboutsurveys/search/metadata.cfm?surv_id=164&ctry_id=30&SrvyTp=available, accessed 10 May 2011.
Nigeria Demographic Health Survey. (2003) http://www.measuredhs.com/pubs/pub_details.cfm?ID=454&ctry_id=30&SrchTp=available, accessed 10 May 2011.
Nigeria Demographic Health Survey. (2008) http://www.measuredhs.com/pubs/pub_details.cfm?ID=970&ctry_id=30&SrchTp=available, accessed 10 May 2011.
The Nigeria Report Card. (2011) Report card on the WHO framework convention on tobacco control, http://tiny.cc/3hxzf, http://www.who.int/fctc/reporting/nigeria_report.pdf, accessed 1 October 2011.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
The author recounts 25 years of Nigerian tobacco control policy and presents prevalence data for Africa's largest country as a way to understand troubling trends, especially among youth. He urges comprehensive action in Nigeria and by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nwhator, S. Nigeria's costly complacency and the global tobacco epidemic. J Public Health Pol 33, 16–33 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1057/jphp.2011.58
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/jphp.2011.58