The Nigerian government, on Monday, June 4,
declared the banning of the use of flavoured tobacco,
especially shisha, in public places. Minister Isaac
Adewole directed security agencies to arrest anyone
found inhaling the substance.
Adegokblog .com learnt that Adewole, a professor and
health minister, made the announcement in
Abuja at an event organised to mark the 2018
World No Tobacco Day celebration in Nigeria.
According to the minister, Nigeria loses $800
million annually to stroke, heart disease and
diabetes with a projected accumulated loss of
$7.6 billion to tobacco in 2015.
The New Telegraph quoted Adewole as saying
that evidence had shown that for every $1 gain
from tobacco business about $3 was expended on
healthcare cost.
He said a work plan to be implemented by
stakeholders before the approval of the NTC
regulations to curb the use of tobacco products
in the country had been developed and launched
by the minister on the National Tobacco Control
(NTC) act.
“The work plan outlines education, enforcement and
monitoring for compliance including the ban on sale of
tobacco products to and by anyone below 18 years of age;
ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship of
any kind; ban on smoking in public places; and ban on sale
of tobacco products in piecemeal quantity but in packs of 20
sticks for cigarettes or 30g for smokeless tobacco.
“The FMOH is also looking beyond the work plan as we are
developing a comprehensive five-year national tobacco
control strategic plan that will provide the roadmap for
complete tobacco control.
“In addition to this, the FMOH participated actively in the
review of the Nigeria industrial standard for tobacco
products convened by Standards Organisation of Nigeria
(SON) in collaboration with Consumer Protection Council
(CPC).
“A key outcome of this review was the ban on all
characterizing flavours including the addition of menthol
into tobacco products. This decision is to protect our
children from getting enticed by flavoured tobacco
products.
“Let me stress that the ban on tobacco products with
characterizing flavours is still in place and the ban includes
shisha because it has flavour. I therefore urge the CPC and
the law enforcement agencies to intensify arrest of
defaulters,” he said.
He added: “Data from 2014 WHO - NCD Global Status
Report showed that heart related diseases, cancers, diabetes
and chronic respiratory disease killed 38 million (68%)
persons out of the 56 million global deaths recorded in
2012, and sadly, more than 40% of these deaths occurred
before the age of 70 years. It is generally agreed that
tobacco will kill more than 50% of its users when used
exactly as recommended by its manufacturers.
“Globally there are more than 1 billion smokers, and more
than 7 million people are killed by tobacco annually. Of
this, more than 6 million die from direct tobacco use, and
close to 900,000 from exposure to second-hand smoke. I
must add that the low and middle income countries
including Nigeria bear nearly 80% of the global burden.
“This indeed calls for increased awareness on the impact of
tobacco use and exposure to second-hand tobacco on
cardiovascular health.
“May I inform you that we are not oblivious of the
conscious efforts by the tobacco industry to project their
business above the health of the public. In view of this we
are duty-bound to protect government laws, regulations and
policies from commercial and other vested interests of the
tobacco industry in accordance with the WHO FCTC Article
5.3 and the NTC Act 2015.
“Recently, Philip Morris International (PMI) under the guise
of the ‘foundation for a smoke-free world’ is persuading the
public to partner with the foundation.
“May I caution in strong terms that all ministries,
departments, agencies, academia, professional bodies, non-
governmental organizations and members of the public not
to accept support from or enter into partnership agreement
with this foundation or any tobacco industry or their front
groups as this might lead to irreconcilable conflict of
interest. If the tobacco industry means well they must stop
manufacturing tobacco products.”
Adegokblog .com earlier reported that a Technical
Working Group (TWG) on tobacco taxation has
urged the federal government to exclude tobacco
companies from benefiting from the Export
Expansion Grant (EEG) and other incentives.
declared the banning of the use of flavoured tobacco,
especially shisha, in public places. Minister Isaac
Adewole directed security agencies to arrest anyone
found inhaling the substance.
Adegokblog .com learnt that Adewole, a professor and
health minister, made the announcement in
Abuja at an event organised to mark the 2018
World No Tobacco Day celebration in Nigeria.
According to the minister, Nigeria loses $800
million annually to stroke, heart disease and
diabetes with a projected accumulated loss of
$7.6 billion to tobacco in 2015.
The New Telegraph quoted Adewole as saying
that evidence had shown that for every $1 gain
from tobacco business about $3 was expended on
healthcare cost.
He said a work plan to be implemented by
stakeholders before the approval of the NTC
regulations to curb the use of tobacco products
in the country had been developed and launched
by the minister on the National Tobacco Control
(NTC) act.
“The work plan outlines education, enforcement and
monitoring for compliance including the ban on sale of
tobacco products to and by anyone below 18 years of age;
ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship of
any kind; ban on smoking in public places; and ban on sale
of tobacco products in piecemeal quantity but in packs of 20
sticks for cigarettes or 30g for smokeless tobacco.
“The FMOH is also looking beyond the work plan as we are
developing a comprehensive five-year national tobacco
control strategic plan that will provide the roadmap for
complete tobacco control.
“In addition to this, the FMOH participated actively in the
review of the Nigeria industrial standard for tobacco
products convened by Standards Organisation of Nigeria
(SON) in collaboration with Consumer Protection Council
(CPC).
“A key outcome of this review was the ban on all
characterizing flavours including the addition of menthol
into tobacco products. This decision is to protect our
children from getting enticed by flavoured tobacco
products.
“Let me stress that the ban on tobacco products with
characterizing flavours is still in place and the ban includes
shisha because it has flavour. I therefore urge the CPC and
the law enforcement agencies to intensify arrest of
defaulters,” he said.
He added: “Data from 2014 WHO - NCD Global Status
Report showed that heart related diseases, cancers, diabetes
and chronic respiratory disease killed 38 million (68%)
persons out of the 56 million global deaths recorded in
2012, and sadly, more than 40% of these deaths occurred
before the age of 70 years. It is generally agreed that
tobacco will kill more than 50% of its users when used
exactly as recommended by its manufacturers.
“Globally there are more than 1 billion smokers, and more
than 7 million people are killed by tobacco annually. Of
this, more than 6 million die from direct tobacco use, and
close to 900,000 from exposure to second-hand smoke. I
must add that the low and middle income countries
including Nigeria bear nearly 80% of the global burden.
“This indeed calls for increased awareness on the impact of
tobacco use and exposure to second-hand tobacco on
cardiovascular health.
“May I inform you that we are not oblivious of the
conscious efforts by the tobacco industry to project their
business above the health of the public. In view of this we
are duty-bound to protect government laws, regulations and
policies from commercial and other vested interests of the
tobacco industry in accordance with the WHO FCTC Article
5.3 and the NTC Act 2015.
“Recently, Philip Morris International (PMI) under the guise
of the ‘foundation for a smoke-free world’ is persuading the
public to partner with the foundation.
“May I caution in strong terms that all ministries,
departments, agencies, academia, professional bodies, non-
governmental organizations and members of the public not
to accept support from or enter into partnership agreement
with this foundation or any tobacco industry or their front
groups as this might lead to irreconcilable conflict of
interest. If the tobacco industry means well they must stop
manufacturing tobacco products.”
Adegokblog .com earlier reported that a Technical
Working Group (TWG) on tobacco taxation has
urged the federal government to exclude tobacco
companies from benefiting from the Export
Expansion Grant (EEG) and other incentives.
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