By Matthew Abi
The Nigerian Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) and a non governmental organization, Nigerian Public Health, Environmental Tobacco Control, Economic and Social Justice have called on the Federal government to enforce the National Tobacco Control Act 2015.
The Program Manager, Oluwaseun Esan stated this in Abuja on Wednesday while addressing journalists at a campaign to stop the rising spate of smoking in the country.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “Tobacco use accounts for an estimated 16,100 death every year with more than 3.5 million Nigerians ( 15 years and older) and more than 25,000 children ( 10 – 14 years ) using tobacco daily”.
Mr Oluwaseun observed that it was necessary for the 8th National Assembly (NASS), which session ends in June, to approve the draft regulations within the week
“We would like to point out that the tobacco industry will embark on both overt and covert activities targeted at derailing the passage of this very important Public Health Regulation.
“We also wish to remind members of the National Assembly that, Nigeria as signatory to the FCTC, is bound by the Convention’s Article 5.3 to place public health and tobacco control above the commercial interest of the tobacco companies and their allies,” he said.
