Tobacco control laws must be implemented by law enforcement authorities, according to the Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA), in order to preserve Nigerian lives.
The National Tobacco Control Authority’s Chairman, Mr. Akinbode Oluwafemi, made the request on Thursday during a news conference with the topic “Stop Tobacco Industry Interference, Enforce Graphic Health Warning Now.”
The NTCA’s Program Manager, Mr. Nwokorie Chibuike, spoke on behalf of the chairman, stating that projections support the effectiveness of the graphic health warnings on tobacco packs in lowering tobacco usage and saving lives.
“We demand that the graphic health warnings policy be immediately implemented on all tobacco products in order to save Nigerians. This appeal is addressed to all authorities responsible for enforcing tobacco control regulations.
“We would like to remind those agencies that their positions are based on public trust and should be used for the benefit of all Nigerians’ health.”
Oluwafemi stated that “the tobacco industry’s interference in policy-making processes is another significant obstacle to tobacco control in Nigeria.”
