Smokers to pay more, as FG increases tax on cigarette, shisha to 30%

The Federal Government has increased the tax on tobacco products including shisha and cigarettes from 20 per cent to 30 percent.

The minister of state for health, Olorunnimbe Mamora, said this on Tuesday at a briefing in Abuja in commemoration of the 2022 World No Tobacco Day, themed ‘Tobacco: A Threat To Our Environment.’

The minister said the tax is aimed at discouraging consumption of tobacco products.

He said the new tax took effect on June 1, 2022.

“This new regime increased the ad-valorem tax rate from 20 percent to 30 percent.

“In addition to the 30 percent ad-valorem, a specific excise rate has been increased from N58 to N84 per pack of 20 sticks of cigarette, and this will further be increased to N94 per pack in 2023; and then N104 per pack in 2024.

“Also, shisha is now taxed at the rate of N3,000 per litre and N1,000 per kilogramme and this will be increased yearly by N500.12.

“This pro-health tax is an effective public health control measure against behavioural risk factors as it has the capacity to reduce demand and consumption of tobacco products,” Mamora said.

He added that the ministry had commenced screening and issuance of operational licences to qualified major tobacco businesses in the country with the view to profiling and monitoring tobacco industry activities nationwide.

Mamora said the tobacco industry must ensure that the unit packages of all their tobacco products have the approved text and pictorial/graphic health warning message so that the public, especially tobacco users, are made aware of the harmful effects of tobacco use.

Theeditorial.ng reports that over 30,000 Nigerians die of tobacco-related diseases annually. This was disclosed by the Country Representative, World Health Organisation, Mr Walter Mulombo.