The Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) has raised an alarm that co companies in Nigeria are planning to open factories to produce what is termed as ‘safer alternatives’ to cigarette and other tobacco related products in the country.
The Sub-Regional Coordinator for West Africa, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK), Mrs. Hilda Ochefu raised the alarm at a media conference on the ‘Effective Implementation of Graphic Health warnings in Nigeria Thursday in Abuja.
She said that the lack of full implementation of the Nigeria Tobacco Act (NTC) 2015 law is making tobacco companies in Nigeria treat the law with levity.
“They (tobacco companies) are planning to open factories that would produce the so called ‘safe alternatives’ to cigarette and other tobacco products in Nigeria, as if there the harmful impact of tobacco is not enough on Nigerians, especially the youths,” she said.
The Executive Director, Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) and Chairman of NTCA, Mr. Akinbode Oluwafemi, represented by the Programme Manager, NTCA, Mr. Chibuike Nwokorie, said that the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that the economic costs of tobacco-related illnesses amount to billions of dollars.
He also expressed concern that government agencies still hold meetings with tobacco industries, despite the health challenges it poses on Nigerians particularly the youths.
Oluwafemi noted that the government agencies should remember that the offices they hold is based on public trust and must be used in the health interest of all Nigerians.
Also, Technical Resource Officer, West Africa, CTFK, Barrister Michael Olaniyan, said, “The first set of the two-year rotational warnings; a photo showing the diseased lungs of a smoker, and the healthy lungs of a non-smoker, expired on June 23rd, 2023.
“The current set of graphic health warnings; an image showing mouth cancer caused by tobacco use was approved by the Federal Ministry of Health and came into effect in June 2023.
“Curiously, the National Tobacco Control Act gives a moratorium of 150 days before enforcement, during which tobacco companies are expected to phase out products bearing the outdated warnings. That moratorium period ended on the 20th of November 2023, marking the start of enforcement of the new set of warnings.”
