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Tobacco Industries Cost World 8 Million Lives, 600 Million Trees Annually – Official

Published

3 years ago

June 1, 2022

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has highlighted the dangerous impacts of tobacco to society, saying more than eight million human lives, 600 million trees, 200,000 hectares of land, 22 billion tonnes of water and 80 million tonnes of Carbon dioxide (CO2), among others, are lost to tobacco industries annually.

The global body made the claim in a publication on Tuesday as part of activities to mark this year’s World No Tobacco Day, which has been set aside by the organisation to sensitise the public on the danger inherent in tobacco, tobacco products and industries.

WHO, in the publication, also urged policymakers to consider banning cigarette filters, noting that they contain microplastics, which it said make up the second-highest form of plastic pollution worldwide.

It further explained that smoking is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, respiratory illness, cancer, diabetes, and hypertension. It said 70 out of 7,000 chemicals in tobacco cause cancer in humans and animals.

Tobacco harms the planet
In the latest WHO report, titled: “Tobacco: Poisoning Our Planet,” the global body said tobacco’s impact on the environment occurs at various stages, from growing and cultivation to the use and disposal of tobacco products.

The report states in part; “Each of these stages has negative implications for the environment, including the use of precious resources such as water and trees and the creation of pollutants through manufacturing.

“Production and consumption of tobacco also contribute to global warming, releasing 80 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the environment each year, the equivalent of driving 17 million gasoline-powered cars each year.

“Tobacco’s long history of negative health implications is well known, including the increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, cancers and respiratory illnesses, but what is less often discussed is the harmful effects it has on the health of our planet.”

It added that tobacco cultivation destroys forests, damages soil and depletes water supplies, while manufacturing contributes to the production of toxic waste.

Impact on farmer livelihood, health
WHO further noted that tobacco farmers and their families are exposed to several health risks.

It added that as many as 25 per cent of tobacco farmers are affected by green tobacco sickness, a disease caused by nicotine absorbed through the skin from the handling of tobacco leaves.

In addition to direct exposures, WHO said “tobacco farmers often bring harmful exposures back home on their bodies, clothes or shoes, leading to secondary harmful exposures for their families.”

“Children are particularly vulnerable, given their body weight relative to the proportion of nicotine absorbed through their skin.

“Pregnant women are disproportionally affected by the harmful effects of tobacco farming and face a higher risk of miscarriage,” WHO said.

On agrochemical use, WHO said tobacco growing requires heavy use of pesticides and fertilisers, which it noted contribute to soil degradation.

“Land used for growing tobacco then has a lower capacity for growing other crops, such as food, since tobacco depletes soil fertility,” it added.

Water depletion

WHO also revealed in the report that the depletion of precious water resources is another harmful consequence of tobacco production. It said its production requires up to eight times more water than tomatoes or potatoes.

It explained that every year, about 22 billion tonnes of water are used in tobacco production globally, which it said is the equivalent of 15 million olympic-sized swimming pools, or roughly the volume of water discharged by the Amazon.

“These water-use estimates are likely an underestimate,” it said, adding that; “A large proportion of tobacco product waste, which consists mostly of cigarette butts, finds its way into bodies of water and water sources.”

However, WHO said taking legal measures to reduce tobacco growing and helping farmers to move into the production of other foods, seems to be more efficient.

Call to action

The global health organisation, therefore, called on the general public to advocate a cleaner environment free of tobacco product waste to protect the ecosystem.

It said: “Encourage tobacco users to quit by educating them on the negative environmental impacts of tobacco

“Support policy action for a ban on single-use plastics, which include cigarette filters, smokeless tobacco pouches and disposable electronic nicotine delivery systems

“Raise awareness of the tobacco industry’s greenwashing tactics and support governments in introducing additional levies and taxes on industry to protect the environment.”

About World No Tobacco Day
WHO’s member-states had in 1987 set aside every May 31 “to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and the preventable death and disease it causes.”

The global health organisation said in 1987, the World Health Assembly passed Resolution WHA40.38, calling for 7 April 1988 to be “a world no-smoking day.” In 1988, Resolution WHA42.19 was passed, calling for the celebration of World No Tobacco Day, every year on 31 May.

The theme for this year’s awareness campaign is; “Tobacco: Poisoning Our Planet”.

News

Okpebholo’s ₦100b Loan Generates Reactions, Controversy

Published

3 hours ago

June 25, 2025

Editor

A Hundred Billion Naira loan approved by the Edo State House of Assembly as support for Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration in delivering key infrastructural projects across the state is generating controversy and reactions from the public.

In a phone-in programme on Benin-based B-Side Radio 98.1FM, while some callers asked the presenter to crosscheck if the loan really amounts to ₦100b or ₦100m, some questioned the rationale behind such a huge loan.

Also, while some callers chided Okpebholo’s administration for such a huge loan, some callers into the programme asked if such a huge loan is what the state needs at the moment in whatsoever infrastructure it may be used for, arguing that poverty and insecurity has taken over the state.

The callere urged the governor to address pressing issues such as insecurity and hardship rather than things that ordinarily does not add values to their lives.

The Edo State House of Assembly had yesterday
approved a ₦100 billion loan facility from First Bank of Nigeria PLC to support Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration in delivering key infrastructural projects across the state.

According to the State Assembly, the loan will be utilized to finance major infrastructural developments, contractor financing, and urban renewal projects in line with the Governor’s five-point development agenda.

These projects are expected to boost economic growth, improve transportation, create job opportunities, and enhance the overall quality of life for Edo citizens.

Speaking during the plenary session, the Majority Leader, Hon. Jonathan Ibhamawu, highlighted several key projects the loan would support. These include the construction of flyover bridges at Ikpoba-Hill, Dawson Junction, and Adesuwa Junction in Benin City, as well as the development of major roads in Edo Central ,Edo South and Edo North Senatorial Districts.

Hon. Ibhamawu also explained that while the state government has budgeted for these developments, revenue allocations from the federal level have fallen short of expectations, making the loan necessary to meet the administration’s goals.

The Speaker, Hon Blessing Agbebaku, emphasized that his local government Owan West and other local government would also benefit significantly from the infrastructural projects. The loan approval was passed through a voice vote by the lawmakers, after which the Speaker directed the Clerk, Alhaji Yahaya Audu Omogbai, to forward clean copies of the resolution to the Governor.

News

IPOB Rejects FG’s Ranching Proposal, Says It’s ‘Land Grabbing’

Published

4 hours ago

June 25, 2025

Editor

The Indigenous People of Biafra, has condemned the announcement by President Bola Tinubu, proposing the establishment of cattle ranches in Abuja, the ancestral homeland of the Gbagi people and other states across the country.

The pro-Biafran group said the move is nothing but Ruga repackaged and a sinister land-grabbing strategy cloaked in government policy.

In a press statement released on Tuesday, IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful, said it is a shame that in the 21st century, the Federal Government is prioritising cow colonies over education, security, and innovation.

Powerful said what began as the “need for grazing” centuries ago led to the total subjugation of proud territories, adding, “the rise of alien emirates, and the transformation of indigenous owners of the land into strangers in their ancestral homes. Abuja is about to witness the same fate if this madness is not stopped.”

The statement read in part, “President Tinubu unaware that no sensible country in the world keeps cattle around its capital city?

“Let him point to any major city—from Nairobi to New Delhi, São Paulo to Seoul—where cattle are granted permanent settlements around central governance zones.

“This absurdity is uniquely Nigerian, and disgracefully so.”

While saying that the land around Abuja belongs to the Gbagi people, Powerful said, “To dispossess them by executive fiat is an unforgivable act of aggression and cultural genocide.”

He added, “Today, the Gbagi are being pushed to the margins; tomorrow, there will be an Emir of Abuja. And in 60 years—just like what befell the Hausas—the Gbagi will be footnotes in history, reduced to relics of their own heritage.

“Let it be known that IPOB shall resist any attempt—direct or indirect—to impose this toxic expansionist agenda anywhere in Biafraland. No inch of our territory will be given for herder settlements, cattle corridors, or so-called ranching. Our forests, our villages, our farmlands are sacred to us—not bargaining chips in a federal contract of death.

“Let them be transported by rail, just as is done in civilised societies. That’s how a serious nation handles its livestock economy—not by slaughtering indigenous peoples and seizing their homes under the guise of ranching.”

According to him, no progressive nation erects ranches next to homes, schools, and marketplaces. The fact that this administration cannot comprehend this basic logic is a reflection of its failure, not ours.

“IPOB stands with the Gbagi people and every other indigenous nationality facing existential threats from Fulani neo-colonial conquest dressed up as national policy. Our diversity must be respected, our cultures preserved, and our ancestral lands protected. Let the killings in the name of cows stop. Let the bloodletting cease. Let Nigeria choose reason over ruin,” the statement added.

News

MultiChoice Cuts DStv Decoder Price By 50% To Attract Subscribers

Published

4 hours ago

June 25, 2025

Editor

MultiChoice Nigeria has slashed the price of its DStv decoder by 50 per cent, dropping it from ₦20,000 to ₦10,000.

The company announced that the move aimed to attract more customers and curb declining subscriptions.

According to the firm’s Chief Executive Officer, John Ugbe, in a statement released on Tuesday, the offer was a way of rewarding customer loyalty and delivering enhanced value to subscribers.

“We want to ensure our customers feel appreciated and have access to the best entertainment every day. The ‘We Got You’ campaign is about making premium content more accessible and showing that DStv offers something for everyone, not just football fans.

“By repositioning itself as a platform for daily value, DStv aims to encourage content discovery across a wider array of genres, including movies, drama, kids’ programming, and news.

“This means more channels, more shows, and more reasons to tune in every day,” the statement added.

The company also announced a promotional offer granting subscribers a free upgrade to the next DStv package tier when they pay for their current plan in full between June 16 and July 31, 2025.

Multichoice maintained the price slash, and the free upgrade initiative is a response “to the noticeable economic impact on the everyday lives of Nigerians.”

This was coming after it lost 1.4 million subscribers between March 2023 and March 2025.

Recall that MultiChoice Nigeria increased its DStv and GOtv bouquet prices three times within 12 months — first in April 2023, followed by another hike in November 2023, and a third announced in April 2024, which took effect on May 1.