The pan-African organization Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has urged the government to increase taxes on tobacco as part of its effort to control its consumption among the country’s children.
The non-profit organization said the high tax on tobacco would increase the cost, making it unaffordable for children and, as a result, reducing their consumption.
This was stated by the Executive Director of CAPPA, Akinbode Oluwafemi, in a statement issued on Thursday on the occasion of World No Tobacco Day 2024.
The theme of the WNTD is: “Protecting Children from Tobacco Industry Interference” and focuses on raising awareness about how the tobacco industry continues to target young people as substitutes for smokers who die or quit.
In this regard, Akinbode urged governments at all levels to intensify their efforts to enforce the National Tobacco Control Act 2015 and the National Tobacco Regulations 2019.
According to him, the application of these laws would guarantee the protection of children against tobacco addiction and its implications, according to the organization.
He said: “The provisions of the Tobacco Law that aim to protect young people include the prohibition of sponsorship and promotion of tobacco advertising, the prohibition of the sale of tobacco to or by minors, and the places smoke-free public, among others.”
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“Apart from these measures, there is also the need to increase taxes on tobacco so that its price is out of reach of our children and the prohibition of the sale of tobacco products in schools and educational institutions,” he added.
High number of tobacco smokers
Data from the World Health Organization (WHO) showed that in 2022, no less than 37 million young people between 13 and 15 years old will use some form of tobacco worldwide.
Akinbode said many young people are adopting new products in the industry, including e-cigarettes and shishas.
“Given mounting evidence that the tobacco industry deliberately targets our youth, the Nigerian government must intensify its efforts to diligently enforce the Tobacco Law, particularly the sections that protect youth initiation and health,” he said. .
Mr Akinbode then commended the Nigerian Film and Censor Board (NFVCB) for introducing regulations to end the subtle or overt glamorization of tobacco and nicotine products in Nigerian movies and films.
He maintained that the rule will help stop youth initiation in the country.
“Our children should enjoy healthy screens. We applaud the censor board for this timely, public health driven regulation, which has also been praised by a large number of professionals in the Nigerian film industry and look forward to its effective implementation,” he said.
WHO started World No Tobacco Day in 1987 to increase understanding of the health dangers related to tobacco use and promote measures to reduce tobacco use.