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Saving youths from menace of tobacco industry interference

 

By Oluwafunke Ishola

Africa, and indeed Nigeria is known for its generally youthful population.

However, data show that these youths are endangered as the tobacco industry has targeted them for their “predatory” tobacco marketing tactics to create profits, thereby breeding a new wave of addiction.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), the tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest public health challenges the world has ever faced, killing more than eight million people around the world every year.

The 2024 WHO Global Report on Trends reveals that children are using e-cigarettes at rates higher than adults in many countries and globally an estimated 37 million youth aged 13 to 15 years use tobacco.

It revealed that 22 countries in the African region are on track to achieve a 30 per cent reduction in tobacco use by 2025. However, it emphasised that progress has been stifled by rising numbers of young tobacco smokers due to tobacco industry influence.

This year, once again, WHO and public health champions from across the globe have come together, leveraging the World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) celebrated annually on May 31, to raise awareness about the harmful influences of the tobacco industry on youth.

The theme for World No Tobacco Day 2024 is “Protecting children from tobacco industry interference”. It emphasises the need to protect future generations and ensure that tobacco consumption continues to reduce.

WHO report titled “Hooking the next generation: how the tobacco industry captures young customers” shockingly revealed that the industry works to reach children and youth to replace customers who quit or die.

According to the report, internal tobacco industry documents, dating as far back as the 1970s, show that tobacco companies have long considered children and youth to be “replacement smokers”, “pre-smokers” and a critical market to sustaining their business and the future of their brands.

“The range of products the industry uses to appeal to youth has expanded significantly, from cigarettes, cigarillos and shisha to newer products like e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products and nicotine pouches.

“Flavoured products and additives, sleek designs and child-friendly packaging and imagery make addictive products even more appealing to youth.

“Companies rapidly launch new products that sidestep, or are not included, in current laws, and use every available means to expand their market share before regulations can catch up with them,” it said.

The health agency revealed that the industry’s tactics include positioning many nicotine products as “safer” than cigarettes, potentially distracting policy-makers and consumers from the fact that nicotine itself is addictive and harmful, particularly to children and youth.

“For example, e-cigarettes with nicotine are highly addictive and are harmful to health.

“While long-term health effects are not fully understood, it has been established that they generate toxic substances, some of which are known to cause cancer and some that increase the risk of heart and lung disorders.

“Use of e-cigarettes can also affect brain development, potentially leading to learning and anxiety disorders for young people,” it said.

The health agency lamented that the tobacco industry was succeeding in its efforts to create a new generation of young people who smoke, vape, suck nicotine pouches or use snuff. It noted that evidence from around the world shows an alarming uptake by children of some products, such as e-cigarettes.

“History is repeating, as the tobacco industry tries to sell the same nicotine to our children in different packaging.

“These industries are actively targeting schools, children and young people with new products that are essentially a candy-flavoured trap.

“How can they talk about harm reduction when they are marketing these dangerous, highly addictive products to children?,” Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General queried.

During a virtual World No Tobacco Day webinar with Journalists, Mr Caleb Ayong, Executive Director, Vital Voices for Africa (VVA), Togo, said tobacco infringes upon children’s basic rights to health and welfare, noting that child labour in tobacco production persists in many parts of Africa.

Ayong emphasised that 14 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals would not be achieved with tobacco industry operations, noting that it portends threats to actualisation of universal health coverage, disease prevention, and mental health promotion.

“Tobacco industry targets young people with aggressive marketing, investing billions on the advertisement of its products. It organises parties, concerts, and product placements to specifically lure young and impressionable minds to its products and activities,” he said.

He called for collaboration in shielding children from the clutches of tobacco, empower them with knowledge, and advocate for policies that prioritise their health.

According to him, journalists hold immense power to ignite change, expose industry lies, and inspire action through their reports, urging them to amplify the voices of youths, unmask tobacco industry’s deception, and create a world where every child breathes freely.

Similarly, Philip Jakpor, Executive Director of Renevlyn Development Initiative (RDI), said the media plays a strategic role in exposing the tactics of the tobacco industry through incisive reports to elicit policy level interventions

“It is the media that must put our governments on their toes to ensure they do not shirk their primary responsibility of protecting our children,” he said.

According to him, the MPOWER package of WHO focuses on six effective measures to reduce demand for tobacco products.

“The W denotes the “Warn about the dangers of tobacco”, which is a role that the media is tasked with carrying out. The media shapes tobacco-related knowledge, opinions and influences individuals and policy-makers.

“For signatories to the WHO–Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC) mass media anti-tobacco campaigns are key components of their tobacco control programmes,” he said.

Corroborating Jakpor, Mr Achieng Otieno, Being Africa, Kenya, explained that the WHO-FCTC was a blueprint for governments to adopt effective tobacco control and assist curb the global tobacco epidemic.

Otieno noted that the goal of the framework was to protect the present and future generations from the devastating health, social, environmental, and economic consequences of tobacco (and nicotine products) consumption and involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke.

“The FCTC plays a vital role in promoting and protecting children’s rights concerning tobacco control by advocating for policies and measures to prevent tobacco use initiation, reduce exposure to secondhand smoke, provide access to information and education, and safeguard public health policies from industry interference,” Otieno said.

Besides, Mohammed Maikuri of Development Gateway, emphasised that the economic burden of smoking, including health expenditures and productivity losses, was estimated at $1.4 trillion annually, with a significant portion of this cost borne by developing countries.

Maikuri said treating diseases caused by tobacco was estimated to have cost Nigeria ₦526.4 billion in 2019, which was nearly one tenth of all healthcare costs in the country.

According to him, Development Gateway, in collaboration with the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health, supported by the Gates Foundation, leads the DaYTA (Data on Youth Tobacco in Africa) programme, focusing on addressing critical data gaps related to adolescent tobacco use in Nigeria.

He said that the initiative aims to gather comprehensive country-level data on tobacco use among young people aged 10 to 17, thereby filling critical evidence gaps and complementing existing data.

Maikuri, however, said that Nigeria’s performance got worse in a 2021 survey showing that the tobacco industry was intensifying its interference in spite of Nigeria’s tobacco control legislation and efforts.

Commenting, Ms Oluchi Robert, Tobacco Control Advocate, noted that WHO report had shown Nigeria, the world’s seventh most populated country, has been recognised by major transnational tobacco companies (TTCs) as a market with enormous income potential due to its large youth population and expanding GDP.

Robert lamented that the tobacco industry in Nigeria, like in many other countries, targets children and youths through various tactics including product marketing, advertising, flavoured products and accessibility.

“Tobacco industry covertly engages in product advertisement through product placements in movies, music videos and use of social media to reach the younger audience.

“According to a 2020 cross-sectional study of school adolescents in Lagos, the most frequently reported channel of exposure was through product placements, with 62 per cent reporting exposure in films, TV, and videos.

“Up to 15.2 per cent and 12.6 per cent were exposed to tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship (TAPS) through promotional activities and sponsorships, respectively,” she said.

She faulted the easy accessibility of tobacco products to children and youths, through stores or online platforms.

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), worried by the alarming increase in young and underage access to tobacco products, launched the ‘Don’t Burn Their Future’ campaign.

 

FCCPC said over 4.5 million Nigerians aged 15 and above are tobacco users, with more than 26,800 annual deaths attributed to tobacco-related diseases.

The Commission emphasised that the campaign was a resolute move to safeguard the health and future of Nigerian youth and to curb the detrimental impact of tobacco products on society.

FCCPC underscores the collective responsibility of individuals, communities, and a prioritised healthcare system in fostering a healthier future for the youth.

Contributing, Dr Tunji Akintade, said there was a fundamental and irreconcilable conflict between the tobacco industry’s interests and public health policy interests.

Akintade urged the government to strengthen its tobacco control policies, improve awareness and educate the public and policymakers about the devastating health and social consequences of tobacco use.

Experts stressed that tobacco industry interference in health policy was a major reason why youth remain unprotected, or not as protected as they should be.

They urged the government to protect current and future generations and hold tobacco and related industries liable for the harm they cause. (NANFeatures)

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

Health

Expert calls for implementation of policies on tobacco consumption

By Okeoghene Akubuike

A Clinical Psychologist, Dr Adedotun Ajiboye, says the Federal Government needs to implement policies and programmes that reduce tobacco consumption and protect citizens from exposure to tobacco smoke.

Ajiboye who works with the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) on Sunday in Abuja.

He was speaking against the backdrop of the World No Tobacco Day 2024 marked annually on May 31 with the theme “Protecting Children from the Tobacco Industry Interference.”

Ajiboye said tobacco was one of the top single greatest causes of preventable deaths globally.

He said smoking could lead to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), cancer of the lungs, larynx, and mouth pancreatic cancer; and hypertension.

Ajiboye said the Nicotine in cigarettes could lead to addiction or substance use disorder adding that tobacco was a significant cause of miscarriages among pregnant smokers.

“Tobacco can lead to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), the fetal brain’s ability may be reduced when exposed to cigarettes.

“ Incidence of impotence is approximately 85 per cent higher in male smokers compared to male non – smokers.

He said smoking was a key factor in causing erectile dysfunction, adding that tobacco smoking led most commonly to disease affecting the heart , liver, lungs, etc.

“Based on the health effects revealed above, the government has a huge role to play in reducing preventable deaths caused by tobacco by implementing policies and programmes that reduce tobacco consumption.

“Also implementing policies that protect citizens from exposure to tobacco smoke.”

Ajiboye suggested some key roles of government to include tobacco taxation, by raising taxes on tobacco products to make them less affordable and reduce consumption.

He said the government should enact laws that prohibit smoking in public places, workplaces, and public transportation, and implement standards for tobacco products, such as warning labels and ingredient disclosure.

Ajiboye said that there should also be awareness campaigns to educate the public about the dangers of tobacco use and providing resources and support for individuals trying to quit tobacco.

“There should be youth access restrictions by enacting laws to prevent the sale of tobacco products to minors.

“There should be monitoring and surveillance by the government through collection of data on tobacco use and related health effects to inform policy decisions.

“Regulation of tobacco advertising by restricting or banning tobacco advertising to prevent promotion to youth and others.”

He said the government should also support tobacco research by funding research on tobacco use and its health effects to inform policy and treatment development.

The clinical psychologist said the federal government should collaborate with other countries to share best practices and coordinate efforts to reduce global tobacco use.

“By taking these steps, the government can effectively reduce the health impacts of tobacco and protect citizens’ health.”

Ajiboye said World No Tobacco Day 2024 is a vital global event aimed at highlighting the health risks associated with tobacco use and advocating for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption.

He said this year’s theme emphasised  protecting children from the tobacco industry’s practices, ensuring a healthier future for the next generation. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Vivian Ihechu

British American Tobacco (BAT) logo
General News

Fine: BAT expresses commitment to Nigerian laws

By Rukayat Moisemhe

The British American Tobacco (BAT) says it remains committed to operating in compliance with Nigerian laws.

Mrs Odiri Erewa-Meggison, the External Affairs Director, British American Tobacco West and Central Africa, said this in a statement on Saturday in Lagos.

Erewa-Meggison said the commitment was in response to the $110 million fine levelled on the company by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).

She stated that the company had previously disclosed the investigation mentioned by the FCCPC in its 2022 annual report.

Erewa-Meggison added that the development was most recently contained in its Half-Year Report for the six months ended June 30, 2023.

“The FCCPC had in December 2022, entered into a consent order, terminating the mentioned investigation and associated proceedings.

“British American Tobacco (Nigeria) Ltd and British American Tobacco Marketing (Nigeria) Ltd have made payments to settle the penalty.

“BAT Nigeria acknowledges the mentioned monitorship and awareness campaigns and has cooperated fully with the FCCPC’s appointed service providers.

“BAT remains committed to operating in compliance with the laws of Nigeria,” she said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma

Illustration for campaign against smoking
Health

Experts want Nigeria to adopt Sweden’s tobacco policy

By Rukayat Moisemhe

Experts on Thursday called on government, public health authorities and stakeholders to consider replicating Sweden’s tobacco policy to achieve a smoke-free Nigeria.

They made the call while offering suggestions during a roundtable on Tobacco Harm Reduction with the theme: “The Impact of Harm Reduction Strategies on Smoking Cessation” in Lagos.

Prof. Nnanyelugo Ike-Muonso, the President of ValueFronteira Limited, said while tobacco use remained a public health concern in Nigeria, finding effective harm reduction strategies had become vital.

Ike-Muonso said that the economic effects of smoking was estimated at N634 billion annually in 2019, with 0.28 per cent economic burden on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) between 2013 and 2020, quoting the Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction (GSTHR).

He affirmed that adopting Sweden’s blueprint for a smoke-free country and associated tobacco harm reduction
policies was not just a choice but a responsibility to citizens and the future generations of Nigeria.

He said “Sweden has indeed become a beacon of hope in the global fight against tobacco, with its unique approach to tobacco control leading to a significant decrease in smoking rates and a consequent improvement in public health.

“Sweden is on track to becoming Europe’s first ‘Smoke Free’ country, with its smoking prevalence rate expected to
drop below five per cent in the coming months and the country’s strategies can potentially save 15.5 million lives
in the next decade.”

Ike-Muonso explained that to drive successful implementation of Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) policies, Nigeria
must develop a comprehensive THR policy framework aligned with global best practices, tailored to Nigeria’s unique context.

He called for the launch of extensive public awareness campaigns to educate citizens, healthcare professionals
and policymakers about the benefits of THR.

He said “Nigerian health authorities should forge partnerships with media outlets to disseminate accurate information and counteract misinformation regarding THR policies.

“They must strengthen knowledge among healthcare professionals about THR policies through targeted training programmes and awareness initiatives, work on policies, reduced excise duties on risk reduction products that ensure their affordability compared to traditional cigarettes, making them accessible to a broader population.

“We must encourage research and development in the field of THR, supporting innovations and advancements in less harmful alternatives and collaborate with international organisations and countries that have successfully implemented THR policies to gain insights and support.

“Nigeria must institute robust monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to assess the effectiveness of THR policies regularly.”

Mr Teslim Shitta-Bey, the Chief Economist, Proshare, quoted World Health Organisation (WHO) report that states that
tobacco use is responsible for over eight million deaths annually, predicted to rise to 10 million by 2025.

Shitta-Bey said that the dangers associated with tobacco smoking are not limited to death alone, but the economic toll is equally staggering, with substantial smoking-related healthcare and productivity losses and negative impacts on the environment.

He said that 8,004 tonnes of butts and packs of cigarettes end up as toxic trash each year, creating severe ecological impact that is detrimental and damaging.

The economist said many countries are beginning to shift to alternative non-combustible risk reduction tobacco alternatives to reduce the health, economic and productivity risks associated with smoking.

According to him, Sweden has become the global example in shifting to tobacco alternatives and achieving the lowest smoking rates, saying the country’s innovative approach to tobacco harm reduction presents tremendous inspiration to Nigeria.

He noted that only 5.6 per cent of the Swedish population are daily smokers, compared with the EU average of 19 per cent, resulting in the country having the lowest lung cancer rates in Europe and one of the lowest rates of tobacco-related deaths.

He added that “beyond reduction in smoking prevalence, Sweden’s experience demonstrates tangible health benefits as the country has witnessed a decline in smoking-related diseases, leading to lower healthcare costs.

“Economically, the impact is substantial. The Businesswire, a Berkshire Hathaway Company, has acknowledged that reduced healthcare expenditures, increased workplace productivity, and a healthier workforce contribute to Sweden’s economic resilience.

“For Nigeria to replicate Sweden’s success, we must revisit and enforce tobacco harm reduction policies, launch public awareness campaigns, collaborate with media, strengthen knowledge among healthcare professionals and promote the affordability of harm reduction products.”

On his part, Prof. Adi Bongo, Professor of Economics at the Lagos Business School, said “with about 50 per cent of Nigerians below the poverty line, people think that issues with smoking are not a major problem, when in reality, it is.”

He stressed that tax policies such as increase in excise tax was not the solution to discourage cigarette smoking, instead, it would lead to increase due to the addiction tendencies of smoking.

“United States government used tax policies such as excise tax to discourage smoking, which led to increase in price of cigarettes and increased crime rate.

“When people are addicted to certain substances, it takes quite a lot to get them off the hook because even if the price increases, such people are not likely to reduce consumption, instead, crime increases to fund their ability to buy it.

“What really works is an educational, behavioural interventions that can help people to change their habits.

“Also, religious circles, academic institutions can employ social communication to help people get over this habit,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Hadiza Mohammed-Aliyu

Health

Group advocates proper funding for tobacco control

 

By Abigael Joshua

Mr Akinbode Oluwafemi, Chairman Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA), has called on the Federal Government to ensure proper funding for tobacco control in the country.

 

 

He said this on Tuesday in Abuja at a press briefing on tobacco control and budgeting.

 

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the event is: “To ensure sustainable development through effective tobacco control funding/budgeting”.

 

 

“Tobacco is killing eight million people every year, institutionalising tobacco control funding and following through with 100 per cent release of budgeted sums will boost the implementation of life-saving provisions of the National Tobacco Act, 2015, and its Regulations of 2019.

 

 

“It is evident that there are competing priorities in the health sector, underscoring the need to funnel monies to deal with critical issues.

 

 

“This is why tobacco control funding must be expressly prioritised because tobacco is a major contributor to global non-communicable diseases because burden,” Oluwafemi said.

 

 

The chairman NTCA said that the “unfortunate slash of funding has slowed down tobacco control efforts in the country, whilst threatening the gains painstakingly made through the years.

 

 

“Regrettably, the allocation to tobacco control plunged by 50 per cent to N4.7 million in 2023, from N9.4 million of 2022.

 

 

“Sept. 26, today President Bola Tinubu is expected to declare war on global drug trafficking at the 31st meeting of Heads of National Drug Law Agencies in Africa.

 

 

“We commend this move by the President, and we encourage him to make tobacco control a key strategy in contacting the drug scourge.”

 

 

The chairman assured that this effort by the president would deal with one of the root causes of drug use among youths as tobacco is a gateway to the use of hard drugs.

 

 

Mr Nwokorie Chibuike, Programme Manager NTCA, noted that tobacco is a major gate way to drug addiction and urged that the Federal Government release proper funds for its control.

 

 

“You can’t fight drugs without controlling tobacco, the National Tobacco Control Act of 2015 and its Regulations of 2019 made it specific how tobacco control should be funded in the country.

 

 

“We are calling on the National Assembly to make sure that tobacco control is properly funded in the country,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

 

Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) logo
General News

Indicate new warning signs or be sanctioned, group tells tobacco firms

By Abigael Joshua

The Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) has warned tobacco companies in the country that it would push for  sanction if they fail to indicate the new anti-smoking warnings on their products.

Mr Akinbode Oluwafemi, the chairman of the alliance said this on Monday in Abuja at a news conference on the implementation of graphic health warnings on tobacco products.

“The current approved warning by the Federal Ministry of Health shows a graphic image of a tobacco user with mouth cancer, with the text warning ‘smoking causes mouth cancer’.

“The profit-centered tobacco industry is foot dragging to weaken this policy.

“This is because it knows that graphic health warnings reduce the number of people who start smoking, just as it encourages current smokers to quit.

“We thereby urge the Federal Ministry of Health, Standard Organisation of Nigeria, (SON) Nigeria Customs Service to ensure that the new health warnings are implemented,” Oluwafemi said.

He said regulation is is contained in Article 11 of the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and in our local laws.

“Section 20 of the National Tobacco Control Act, (NTC Act)2015 Nigeria requires manufacturers, importers, and distributors of tobacco products to ensure that their products carry full coloured graphic health warnings.

“This should cover 50 per cent of the principal display area.

“Similarly, that the approved graphic photo must clearly show the health implications of tobacco use and exposure,” he said.

The chairman said the law anticipated that the shock value of the warnings would begin to wane after two years, saying this is why the warnings are required to be rotated every two year.

“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 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.

“It is now one month since the warnings expired, and as an alliance we alerted our members in the Federal Capital Territory, as well as Ebonyi, Kano and Lagos states to monitor compliance with the second phase of the warnings,” he said.

The chairman said that it was unfortunate that findings showed that compliance was at zero per cent.

Oluwafemi said that tobacco use is a major public health concern and is a major leading death cause in the world.

“It is responsible for more than eight million deaths each year and if current tread continues death rate is expected to rise significantly in the coming years.

“In Nigeria there is a growing concern about the use of tobacco, especially the use of shisha, and several products entering our country particularly amongst the youths.

“The introduction of graphic health warnings on tobacco products is an effective way to reduce tobacco use and its associated harms.

“Several studies have shown that graphic health warnings are more effective than text only warnings,”he said.

Oluwafemi said that graphic health warnings are important “because we have some illiterates who cannot read or right in English language but can view pictures.”

Mrs Hilda Ochefu, a member of Campaign for Tobacco-free kids, said that everybody is at risk of second hand smoke generated from tobacco smokers.

“The tobacco fight is about our country and our children. We want to make sure that our children are protected while also protecting ourselves.

“We call on SON, ministry of health and the Consumer Protection Council to wade into the issue of non-compliance by tobacco companies because it is of multi-sectorial concern,” Ochefu appealed.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NTCA is a network of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Community-Based Organisations (CBOs), Faith-Based Organisations (FBOs), and several professionals.

It is concerned with human rights, public health, cancer, and tobacco control with a view to ensuring qualitative health; sustainable human development; and good governance for all Nigerians. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Uche Anunne