By Babatunde Tiamiyu
A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Oyo State has called on the state government to establish a dedicated budgetary allocation for tobacco control as part of efforts to curb the rising burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
The coalition, convened by the Trailblazer Initiative Nigeria (TBI) in partnership with the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), made the call during a formation and capacity-building training held in Ibadan.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Director of TBI, Dare Olagoke-Adaramoye, said the coalition was established to actively engage in the state’s pre-budget process and advocate for the inclusion of a specific tobacco control budget line in the 2027
appropriation of the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.
He noted that the coalition would also push for the passage of a comprehensive tobacco control bill by the Oyo State House of Assembly to strengthen enforcement mechanisms across the state.
Dr. Olagoke-Adaramoye said the call became necessary in view of the growing prevalence of NCDs in Nigeria, which account for nearly one-third of all deaths nationwide. Tobacco use, he emphasized, remains a major preventable risk factor for heart disease, cancer and stroke.
While acknowledging the existence of the National Tobacco Control Act and the Oyo State 2016 law regulating smoking in public places, he stressed that enforcement has been weakened by the absence of a clearly defined budget line, weak implementation of smoke-free regulations, limited monitoring frameworks and inadequate funding for public awareness campaigns.
“That is why CSOs are critical in driving accountability and reforms,” he stated.
He disclosed that tobacco use prevalence in Oyo State stands at 7.0 percent among men aged 15–49, warning that the statistic poses serious public health implications, particularly for youth exposure and long-term health outcomes.
According to him, the increasing burden of NCDs is overstretching health facilities, raising healthcare costs, reducing workforce productivity and exposing non-smokers, including children, to second-hand smoke.
Dr. Olagoke-Adaramoye further highlighted the health risks associated with tobacco use, including chronic respiratory diseases, lung cancer, pregnancy complications, cardiovascular diseases and addiction among young people. He added that tobacco-related illnesses also impose significant financial strain on families due to high treatment costs and increased out-of-pocket spending.
He reaffirmed that the coalition would work collectively to ensure tobacco control receives sustained policy attention and financial commitment to protect public health in Oyo State.
