The Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA), a coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has urged the Federal Government to establish the Tobacco Control Fund (TCF) as contained in Part III of the National Tobacco Act (NTC) 2015.
The chairman governing board of the alliance and Deputy Director of Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) Dr Akinbode Oluwafemi, made the plea yesterday in Abuja while briefing newsmen at the end of a sensitisation rally marking the 2018 World No Tobacco Day activities.
He urged immediate commencement of enforcement of nine provisions of the NTC Act announced by the Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole in 2017 like the smoke-free public places, restriction on underage access and ban of sale in single sticks, among others slated for commencement next Monday.
The Sub-Regional Coordinator West Africa of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK) Mrs Hilda Ochefu, the Programme Coordinator NTCA, Oluseun Esan and Research Associate Centre for the Study of Economies of Africa, Joseph Ishaku among others also spoke on the significance of a tobacco-free Nigeria in the interest of the present and future generations.
