The Executive Director of Trailblazer Initiative Nigeria (TBI), Dr. Dare Olagoke-Adaramoye, has called for stronger enforcement and sustainable domestic financing of tobacco control policies to address the rising burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) in Ọ̀yo State.
Speaking during a live radio programme on Success 105.3FM, Dr. Dare highlighted that tobacco use remains one of the leading preventable causes of death globally, responsible for over 8 million deaths annually. In Nigeria, NCDs account for about 29% of all deaths, with tobacco contributing significantly to heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, hypertension, and chronic respiratory illnesses.
He noted that although Nigeria’s National Tobacco Control Act (2015) and the Oyo State Smoke-Free Law (2016) provide a strong legal framework, enforcement gaps and limited funding continue to hinder effective implementation. According to him, tobacco control remains one of the most cost-effective strategies for preventing NCDs, reducing hospital admissions, and lowering long-term healthcare costs.
Dr. Dare also used the opportunity to highlight his Capstone Project, funded by the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI), titled “Strengthening Tobacco Control in Oyo State through Sustainable Domestic Financing.” The project aims, within five months (by June 2026), to influence the Oyo State pre-budget process to secure the formal inclusion of a dedicated tobacco control budget line in the Ministry of Health’s 2027 budget planning instruments.
The expected short-term outcome includes a formal commitment to a dedicated tobacco control budget line, evidenced in official budget documents, Medium-Term Sector Strategy (MTSS) reports, or policy directives. It also seeks improved policy recognition of tobacco control as a public health and child-protection priority, alongside strengthened accountability mechanisms for enforcement and compliance monitoring.
Dr. Dare urged government agencies, lawmakers, civil society organization’s, and community leaders to collaborate in prioritizing preventive healthcare.
“If you don’t smoke, don’t start. If you smoke, seek help to quit. Prevention is always cheaper than treatment,” he advised.
