ERA/FoEN Laud Govt On Gazetting of Tobacco Control Law,Push for Enforcement

The Environmental Rights Acton /friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) yesterday applauded the authorities over the decision to gazette the National Tobacco control (NTC) regulations 2019.
ERA/FoEN’s Deputy Director , Mr Akinbode Oluwafemi who briefed reporters in Abuja called for the prompt enforcement of the NTC Act 2015.
The group identified the implementation of the ban of sale of cigarettes to minors, the sale of cigarettes in single sticks and pictorial health warnings as part of areas that need to be enforced immediately.
The group called for the inauguration of the tobacco control committee mandated to manage the Tobacco control fund as recommended in the NTC Act 2015, 
The group warned that with the gazetting of the regulations, the tobacco industry will become more daring and creative hence government at all levels must take proactive measures to safeguard Nigerians.
It claimed that there have been an upsurge in the activities of tobacco industries under the pretext of discharging their corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities at state and national levels on the social media space.
It noted: “For instance, British America Tobacco Nigeria foundation (BATNF) practically dominated the news pages when on the occasion of the world food day 2019 it sought to confuse Nigerians by claiming to promote the UN strategic development goals when seeks to end hunger through partnership with government and farmers.
” through such a move , they position themselves as stakeholders in nigeria’s agricultural sector and subtly want to forge a relationship with the SDGs office. The foundation is also aggressively targeting the youth through such initiatives as the wealth is here which it claims , is targeted at young entrepreneurs and the unemployed and has enjoyed wide media coverage.”