Nigeria Waka Go 62 For Global Tobacco Interference Rankings

Nigeria don fall small more for di global ranking wey dey show how countries dey protect public health policies from tobacco industry wahala, according to di 2025 Nigeria Tobacco Industry Interference (TII) Index wey dem release yesterday. Di report wey Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) run show say Nigeria score don waka from 60 for 2023 go 62 for 2025, put di country for 54th position out of 100 countries wey dem check. Di findings cover April 2023 reach March 2025 and dem base am on Article 5.3 of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC), wey talk say tobacco industry interest no fit match public health. CAPPA Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, talk say di Index dey show how tobacco companies dey exploit weak law enforcement to waka enter Nigeria policy space like dem dey partner government. Dem dey use CSR things like borehole donation, scholarship, and tree planting to sweeten dem image, but na manipulation be dat, dia dey hide wahala wey dem business dey cause.

Di CAPPA Assistant Executive Director, Zikora Ibeh, talk say di 2025 Index check seven areas including policymaking participation, CSR, benefits to industry, unnecessary interaction, transparency, conflict of interest, and preventive measures. Report talk say Nigeria worsening score dey show say anytime dem try block tobacco, another way dey open for dem enter. British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation still dey partner state ministries and local governments, waka enter governance even with law. Di 2023 suspension of tobacco excise tax increase make health and fiscal response weak, shift cost go citizens but protect industry profit. Government officials, including Oyo State Governor, still dey attend tobacco events, show say dem dey complicit. Transparency still weak, most agencies no dey disclose interaction with tobacco companies, and few officials sabi Article 5.3, so dem no sabi say attendance for tobacco-funded event dey violate public health ethics. Report call for urgent reform like ban tobacco-led CSR, enforce full disclosure, strengthen conflict-of-interest safeguards, restore predictable tobacco taxes, train public service on Article 5.3, and comot tobacco company from policy consultation. Oluwafemi warn say di wahala no just dey affect smoker health but democracy too, make government fit act independent from corporate capture.