Groups commend FG for gazetting tobacco control regulations

The Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) and the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) have commended the Federal Government for gazetting the National Tobacco Control (NTC) Regulations 2019.

Federal Ministry of Health gazette of the NTC Regulations 2019 is the final step that gives teeth to the law eight months after it was approved by the Eighth National Assembly on the conclusion of harmonisation of Senate and House of Representatives versions by a Conference Committee set up for that purpose.

Key provisions of the regulations include the introduction of health warnings in cigarette packs that must constitute 50 per cent of the principal display area and would be increased to 60 per cent in another four years.

Tobacco manufacturers, importers and distributors must also submit a yearly report to the Minister of Health detailing the quantity of tobacco products produced, audited annual statement of accounts, quantities of tobacco imported into or exported from Nigeria, and offers or payments made to political parties or candidates, among others.

It also prohibits the participation of tobacco industry employees as delegate in Conference of Parties of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control meetings owing to tons of reports that show that industry delegates infiltrate the talks to steer discussions from concrete decisions that regulate tobacco business.

Enforcers of the law include the Nigeria Police officers, public health officers, National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officers, Customs officers, and Environmental Health officers of the Federal Capital Territory and each state of the federation, among others.

In a statement issued in Lagos, Head, Media & Campaigns of ERA/FoEN, Philip Jakpor, said, “Although the gazette took a long in coming, it was the right step in the right direction.”

Deputy Executive Director of ERA/FoEN, Akinbode Oluwafemi said, “This is a welcome development. Now that a comprehensive legal framework for effective implementation of the NTC Act 2015 has been put in place, we anticipate enforcement will commence to keep the prowling tobacco industry in check”

Oluwafemi pointed out that the era of impunity by the tobacco industry is nearing its end, even as he charged government agencies responsible for enforcement of the NTC Act and the Regulations to work collaboratively to ensure that the well being of Nigerians are no longer jeopardised in their quest for illicit profits.

On his part, National Coordinator of NTCA, Oluseun Esan said, “This indeed is good news and a most welcome gift to Nigerians. We commend the Federal Ministries of Health and Justice for their roles in making the gazette happen and seize the opportunity to ask the enforcing agencies to hit the ground running because every minute counts.

The groups maintained that post-gazette, the tobacco industry might exploit lack of funding for tobacco control to continue business-as-usual hence the Federal Government must take next step to inaugurate the Tobacco Control Fund as recommended by the NTC Act 2015 in Part 3, Section 8 (1) as a mechanism for funding tobacco control.