28,000 Nigerians die annually from tobacco use

The Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) has raised an alarm over the 28,000 Nigerians who die annually from tobacco use.

The NTCA chairman Mr. Akinbode Oluwafemi, at a briefing in Abuja warned that if the current trend continues, tobacco-related deaths will rise significantly.

He said that the effectiveness of graphic health warnings (GHWs) in reducing tobacco use is helping on some levels, but expressed concern over the increasing use of shisha and new tobacco products among Nigerian youths despite their health risks.

He said that it is important for total compliance with the National Tobacco Control Act 2015, particularly regarding shisha and vapes.

He said that while compliance with warnings on conventional cigarettes is above 80%, it is very low for other tobacco products like shisha and flavoured vapes, which are still being illegally marketed in the country.

He condemned the tobacco industry for trying to weaken policies by delaying compliance, knowing that graphic health warnings help reduce smoking initiation and encourage quitting.

“It is now one year since the warnings came into effect. As an alliance, we alerted our members in the FCT, as well as Abia, Kano, Bauchi, Plateau, Cross River and Lagos states to continually monitor compliance with the second phase of the warnings.

“From the findings, the compliance level on the conventional cigarette is above 80%. However, it is shocking to reveal that compliance is abysmal on other tobacco products like shisha, and flavoured vapes that are still illegally marketed in Nigeria. This is unacceptable.

“The tobacco industry should not undermine the laws governing its business in Nigeria. The profit-centred tobacco industry producing, importing and distributing these tobacco products is foot-dragging to weaken this policy because it knows that graphic health warnings reduce the number of people who start smoking, just as it encourages current smokers to quit. They can help to reduce the amount of tobacco consumed by current smokers,” Oluwafemi said.

He urged the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Nigeria Police Force, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), Federal Ministry of Health, and other regulatory agencies to enforce the implementation of graphic health warnings on all tobacco products to protect public health and safe the country from the high tobacco related deaths.