Tobacco Control advocates in Nigeria have expressed concern over the noncompliance with the provision of the law to inscribe new graphic health warnings on all tobacco products by tobacco companies operating in the country.
While addressing News men in Abuja, the group explains that the National Tobacco Control Act, 2015 and its regulations, 2019 stipulates a bieniel rotation of graphic heath warning on tobacco products.
The group added that November 20, 2023 marks the beginning of enforcement of the new graphic warning showing that “smoking causes mouth cancer”.
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The advocates are calling on relevant government agencies to close the enforcement gaps already created by the tobacco industry’s interference in Nigeria’s public health policies for the health safety of the young population.
Available studies show that full implementation of the graphic health warnings on tobacco products will prevent about 11 thousand deaths, 32 thousand illnesses and save up to 6.7 million naira annually from health burdens occasioned by tobacco intake.
(Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)
