Nigerians Urged To Support Implementation Of Tobacco Control Act

Source from:  AllAfrica.com 06/03/2019

As Nigeria joins the World in commemorating the "World No Tobacco Day", Nigerians have been urged to support the implementation of the National Tobacco Control Act.

NTCA is an anti-tobacco law which was signed into law in 2015. The law, when implemented among others is meant to protect the health of Nigerian and reduce exposure to second-hand smoking.

Unfortunately, the full implementation of the Act has been stalled because of a clause in the Act which mandates that before implementation, the National Assembly needs to pass another law to regulate the enforcement of the Act.

Nigeria has been able to overcome the hurdle as the law was passed May 28.

By this, the NTCA can be fully implemented in line with the World Health Organisation Framework on Tobacco Control.

The World Health Organisation Regional Director, Matshidiso Moeti, in a press briefing in Abuja to commemorate the day, said tobacco control has become very important as tobacco epidemic is one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced.

Ms Moeti said the control of the use of tobacco has become very important because it has a negative effect on the health of many people especially children.  Enditem