Coalition carries enforcement on tobacco products in Abuja

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

A coalition on tobacco smoking has carried out enforcement against tobacco products without the government approved graphics health warnings.
The enforcement which took place in Abuja recently was necessitated by flagrant disobedience to the country’s laws by tobacco companies.
Speaking during the exercise, the Management Sciences for Health Project Specialist on Tobacco Policy Action Fund for Africa,
Peter Unekwu-Ojo, said the enforcement which took
place at Shop rite, HMedix and other big stores in the nation’s capital was with a human face to sensitize and educate the marketers on the kind of products that should not be in the market.
“Before you carry out enforcement, you need to tell the people the consequences of what they are doing. They need to know the provision of the law and how to go about it.
“We also observed that some products do not have the approved graphics health warning. We have told them to get rid of those products from their stores. We want them to do the right thing and save lives.”
Speaking further, he said the team observed that Myle and Nano tobacco products currently in some stores are not licensed for Nigeria’s market.
He said the team will continue to carry out its enforcement exercise within the country to save lives.
Those who were part of of the enforcement included; Management Sciences for Health
, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)
, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).
Others were; Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps ( NSCDC), Nigeria Police, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and Environmental Health Council of Nigeria.