Over 20 billion sticks of cigarettes are consumed annually in Nigeria, the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, has said. Mr. Adewole also said 4.5 million adults currently use tobacco products, while about 82 percent of people who visit bars and nightclubs are exposed to second-hand smoke.The “World No Tobacco Day” is celebrated annually on May 31. This year’s World No Tobacco Day theme is “Tobacco and Heart Disease.”
“Let me draw attention to the fact that tobacco use is responsible for huge economic losses emanating from both direct and indirect medical costs,” Mr. Adewole said.
“It is estimated that Nigeria loses $800 million annually to stroke, heart disease, and diabetes.
“In 2015, the projected accumulated loss to tobacco was put at $7.6 billion,” he said.
He said for every $1 gained from tobacco business, about $3 is expended on healthcare cost, noting that the tobacco industry makes a huge profit without taking responsibility for the harm they do to public health.
Speaking on the trending shisha (flavored tobacco) among young Nigerians, Mr Adewole said the country would not accept tobacco consumption in whatever disguise, as there is a need to protect the future of the country.
“A key outcome of this review was the ban on all characterizing flavors including the addition of menthol into tobacco products.
“I, therefore, urge the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) and the law enforcement agencies to intensify arrest of defaulters,” he said.
In his speech at the event, the World Health Organisation (WHO) country representative, Wondi Alemu, said tobacco control is one of the most effective means to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which target, by 2030, premature deaths from non-communicable diseases.
He said the elimination of tobacco use will help to prevent millions of people dying from non-communicable diseases.
“On average, tobacco users lose 15years of life. In the African Region, about 146,000 adults, aged 30 years and above, die every year from tobacco-related diseases,” he said.
To further discourage tobacco consumption and increase government revenue, Nigeria increased tax on tobacco products, as well as alcoholic beverages. The new tax regime commenced on Monday.
Source: Premiumtimes
