By Mashe Umaru Gwamna
Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) has called on the federal government to implement graphic health warnings on tobacco products.
The NGO made the call on Monday in Abuja, while addressing journalists on the need for the government to ensure the implementation.
Specifically, Akinbode Oluwafemi, Board Chairman of NTCA said
tobacco use is a major public health concern and is the leading cause of preventable deaths in the world. “It is responsible for more than 8 million deaths each year, and if current trends continue, this number is expected to rise significantly in the coming years.
“Here in Nigeria, there are growing concerns about the increasing use of tobacco products, especially the use of shisha among our young population despite the serious health implications.
“The introduction of Graphic Health Warnings (GHWs) on tobacco products is an effective
way to reduce tobacco use and its associated harms. Studies have shown that GHWs are
more effective than text-only warnings in communicating the risks of tobacco use. They are
also more likely to be noticed and remembered by users.
“This measure is contained in Article 11 of the World Health Organisation Framework
Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC), and in our local laws. Section 20 of the
National Tobacco Control Act, 2015 (NTC Act) requires manufacturers, importers, and
distributors of tobacco products to ensure that their products carry full coloured graphic
health warnings, covering 50% of the principal display area, and that the approved graphic
photo must clearly show the health implications of tobacco use and exposure.
“In providing guidelines for effective implementation of this policy, section 20 (3) of the NTC
Act stipulates that graphic health warnings must be changed after an initial period no later
than 24 months to new graphic warnings and messages prescribed by the Federal Ministry
of Health. The law anticipated that the shock value of the warnings would begin to wane
after two years, this is why the warnings are required to be rotated every two years.”
Speaking further, he said in the first set of warnings, a contrast image of healthy lungs and diseased lungs of a smoker
was issued on June 23, 2021, and expired on June 22, 2023, after a period of two years.
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