Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has urged the Nigerian government to intensify the enforcement of the National Tobacco Control Act (NTCA), the National Tobacco Control Regulations, as well as the Regulation prohibiting promotion and glamourisation of smoking in the film and music industry.
The call comes as the world marks the 20th anniversary of the World Health Organisation Framework Convention of Tobacco Control (WHO) (FCCTC),
CAPPA in a statement, described the FCTC as the first global public health treaty, adopted on 27 February 2005, that regulates tobacco products, including their content, packaging, advertising, marketing, sponsorship, price, taxation, and illicit trade, to protect future generations from the health, social, environmental, and economic consequences of tobacco use.
Many countries have become parties to the treaty, including 183 countries representing 90 percent of the world’s population.
Nigeria As Signatory To National Tobacco Control
Nigeria became a signatory to the treaty in 2004 and ratified it in 2005.
To implement the convention, the country enacted the National Tobacco Control Act 2015, and later the National Tobacco Control Regulations in 2019, and, most recently, the Regulation prohibiting the promotion of smoking.
According to the Executive Director at CAPPA, Akinbode Oluwafemi, “This milestone offers an opportunity to reflect on the treaty’s remarkable achievements, renew our commitment to tobacco control, and engender a healthier, tobacco-free future for Nigerians,”
He however, noted that despite these laws, the enforcement of tobacco control in Nigeria has been low, with the industry exploiting regulatory gaps to target more victims, especially younger demographics, with new, addictive, unregulated tobacco and nicotine products of death and disease.
“Annually, more than 8 million people die from diseases caused by smoking and other tobacco use,” Oluwafemi said.
Effect of Tobacco Related Diseases In Nigeria
The Executive Director said that tobacco-related illnesses kill 26,800 yearly in Nigeria and cause terrifying non-communicable diseases including cancer, heart disease, and chronic respiratory diseases on thousands more, costing billions in healthcare expenses and lost productivity.
“In addition, tobacco cultivation, manufacturing and use poison our water, soil, beaches and streets with chemicals, toxic waste, cigarette butts, including microplastics, and e-cigarette waste, destroying our environment and further harming human and animal health.” He said
