- Says enforcement is due after expiration of 150 days of moratorium
From Idu Jude, Abuja
The Federal Government of Nigeria has been tasked to commence arrest and prosecution of tobacco companies and sales out lets on non compliance to new graphic health warnings for tobacco use in the country.
This call was made Thursday in Abuja by a group under the aegis of Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) during a press briefing to press used to reawakening Government consciousness towards positive implementation of the compliance after six months moratorium period.
Recall that the abuse of tobacco use, has been warned to have health hazards to citizens any country without control.
Delivering a speech Chairman of the group Akinbode, Oluwafemi, who was represented by Mr Chibuike Nwaokorie, stated that there is no other alternative to tobacco Control except the lay down rules established by the Federal Ministry of Health, must be duly respected. He said that Nigeria like other countries is grappling with the burdens of tobacco- related diseases.
“The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that the economic cost of tobacco -related illnesses amount to billions of dollars and in recognising this, Nigeria ratified the (WHO) framework convention on tobacco Control FCTC in 2005 and enacted the National Tobacco Control ACT in 2015, signalling it’s commitment to implementing evidence -based strategies to end tobacco consumption. One of these strategies is the graphics health warnings policy contained in the National Tobacco Control ACT of 2015. and the National Tobacco Regulations approved in 2019”.
Further explaining the negative effects of tobacco to the health, he stressed that a recent study by the Institute of Clinical Effectiveness and health policy in collaboration with an indigenous research group, ‘ The Centre for the Study of the Economies of Africa, indicates that a full implementation of the graphic health warnings policy will end 11, 744 deaths caused by tobacco use. The research also showed that it could prevent over 32, 608 illnesses attributed to tobacco use and save the country over N6, 745,786 million in health care costs annually. These projections also reiterate the fact that graphic health warnings on Tobacco packs are effective in reducing tobacco use and uptake, and that they indeed saves lives.
While Urging the Federal Government and other relevant enforcement agencies to commence enforcement and ensure compliance, rues the significant obstacle to tobacco Control in Nigeria, with an emphasis that the National Tobacco Control ACT gave a Moratorium of 150 days before enforcement, during which tobacco companies are expected phase out products bearing the outdated warnings. “That Moratorium period, ended on the 20th of November 2023, making the start of enforcement of the new set of warnings Inevitable.”
The Nigerian Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA), however, observed that another significant obstacle to tobacco Control in Nigeria is the Tobacco industry’s interference in policy making process. It stressed that the industry employs different tactics, such as lobbying and strategic marketing, to influence decision- makers and dilute the impact of tobacco Control measures in Nigeria “This interference not only undermines the effectiveness of existing policies but also hampers efforts to introduce more stringent regulations”.
The group reminded government representative of the danger of conniving with tobacco companies to the detriment of Nigerian citizens, with the warning that government offices remain a public trust.