The Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) said over 28,000 Nigerian citizens die annually due to tobacco use according to its latest survey.
Comparing the latest report with the last one, the current survey showed a significant increase in the compliance level on cigarette packs, with an estimated 90% compliance.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Oluwafemi, Chairman, of NTCA, said the compliance level of snuff and shisha is estimated to be below 10% describing the trend as deeply concerning.
“As an Alliance, we have continued to work to strengthen the gains made so far on the policy. Therefore, as recently as October 2022, we commissioned a survey to ascertain the compliance level of the policy on all tobacco products in the country. The survey was carried out in Ekiti, Adamawa, Cross River,
Abia, Abuja and Kano.”
“When results from this survey were compared with results from a similar survey we conducted in 2021, the results showed a significant increase in the compliance level on cigarette packs, with an estimated 90% compliance.”
“However, it is deeply concerning to find out that other tobacco products such as snuff and shisha (which has become notoriously popular among young people) have no graphic health warnings and still carry the outdated text warnings. The compliance level of this group of tobacco products is estimated to be below 10%”, he said.
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The group called on on the Nigeria Police Force, Federal Ministries of Health and
Environment, the National Security and Civil Defense Corps and all agencies charged with monitoring and enforcing of the National Tobacco Control Act to wake up to their responsibilities.
Oluwafemi thereby charged the enforcement agencies to monitor and enforce the policy on all tobacco products, not only on cigarette packs.
