By Chidi Ogbonna
One month after the first phase of the Graphic Health Warnings (GHWs) warnings had expired, Tobacco companies failed to commence compliance on the second phase as approved by the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) has said.
NTCA disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, saying that it commissioned members to monitor compliance with the second phase of the warnings in the Federal Capital Territory, Ebonyi, Kano and Lagos states, but was shocked to find zero compliance in all the states.
Akinbode Oluwafemi, Chairman of NTCA, during the briefing, expressed worry over the development lamenting that the use of the products is a major health concerns responsible for more than eight million deaths annually.
He said the current approved warnings 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”.
“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. It is shocking to reveal that compliance is at a flat 0%. This is totally unacceptable. The tobacco industry should not undermine the laws governing its business in Nigeria.
“The current approved warnings 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”.
Oluwafemi, warned that number of deaths resulting from use of tobacco is expected to rise significantly in the coming years if current trends continue.
Oluwafemi described the situation as unacceptable warning that tobacco companies should not be allowed to undermine laws governing businesses in Nigeria, adding that the current approved warnings 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 NTCA boss, who briefed the members of the press in company of Nwokorie Chibuike, Programme Manager, NTCA, Michael Olaniyan, Country Coordinator, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, Mrs. Hilda Ochefu, Associate Director, Capacity Building Africa,Campaign For Tobacco Free Kids, noted that there are growing concerns in Nigeria, about the increasing use of tobacco products, especially the use of shisha among young population despite the serious health implications.
He explained that the introduction of Graphic Health Warnings (GHWs) on tobacco products is an effective way to reduce tobacco use and its associated harms, stressing that studies have shown that GHWs are more effective than text-only warnings in communicating the risks of tobacco use.
“They are also more likely to be noticed and remembered by users.
Giving insights into the introduction of the second phase of GHWs, Oluwafemi said: “This measure is contained in Article 11 of the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC), and in our local laws. Section 20 of the National Tobacco Control Act, 2015 (NTC Act) requires manufacturers, importers, and distributors of tobacco products to ensure that their products carry full coloured graphic health warnings, covering 50% of the principal display area, and that the approved graphic photo must clearly show the health implications of tobacco use and exposure.
“In providing guidelines for effective implementation of this policy, section 20 (3) of the NTC Act stipulates that graphic health warnings must be changed after an initial period no later Chan 24 months to new graphic warnings and messages prescribed by the Federal Ministry of Health.
“The law anticipated that the shock value of the warnings would begin to wane after two years, this is why the warnings are required to be rotated every two years.
“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, after a period of two years”.
