Expert raises alarm over increasing deaths linked to tobacco use
June 09, 2025 by guardian.ng
Expert raises alarm over increasing deaths linked to tobacco use
Dr. Rita Opene, a health expert in Delta State, Nigeria, raises alarm on the increasing tobacco-related deaths, stressing global preventable death concerns. Opene, also a coordinator for the Nigerian Cancer Society, highlights World Health Organization data revealing over seven million annual tobacco-related deaths worldwide. She addresses statistics from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey, showing 4.7 million Nigerian adults using tobacco, with a rising trend in newer tobacco products. Opene warns about the health risks, including lung cancer and heart disease, associated with tobacco use, emphasizing the need for urgent action and awareness to combat the epidemic.
2.90% of the adult population are current smokers. There are approximately 3.4 million current smokers in Nigeria 5.40% of men are current smokers but only 0.40% of women.
SOURCE: GSTHR
