The Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) has called on law enforcement agencies to implement tobacco control legislation in order to save Nigerians.
Mr. Akinbode Oluwafemi, Chairman of the National Tobacco Control Authority, made the call on Thursday during a press conference with the theme, ‘Stop Tobacco Industry Interference, Enforce Graphic Health Warning Now’.
The chairman, represented by Mr Nwokorie Chibuike, Programme Manager, NTCA, stated that forecasts confirm that graphic health warnings on tobacco packets are successful in reducing tobacco use and saving lives.
“We call on all agencies tasked with the enforcement of tobacco control laws to save Nigerians by beginning the enforcement of the graphic health warnings policy without delay on all tobacco products.
“We wish to strongly remind those agencies that the offices they hold are based on public trust and must be used in the health interest of all Nigerians.
“Another significant obstacle to tobacco control in Nigeria is the tobacco industry’s interference in policy-making processes,” Oluwafemi said.
