CISLAC Urges Nigeria to Revise Tobacco Tax Policy

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), led by Executive Director Auwal Ibrahim Musa Rafsanjani, has expressed concerns over Nigeria's recently approved fiscal policy measures regarding tobacco taxation, which will take effect on April 1, 2026. The new policy introduces a revised excise duty framework for tobacco products and non-alcoholic beverages, maintaining a 30% ad valorem excise duty and an annual specific tax increment of N1.00.

CISLAC argues that this adjustment is insufficient to significantly reduce tobacco consumption and does not align with Nigeria's obligations under the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). The organization highlights that the current tax structure fails to match the inflation rate, which is above 15%, and that Nigeria's tobacco taxation remains significantly below the ECOWAS benchmark of $0.40 per pack of cigarettes.

CISLAC warns that failure to strengthen tobacco taxation could deepen health risks and undermine Nigeria's international public health obligations.