No fewer than 20 billion sticks of cigarettes are consumed annually in
Nigeria, Minister of Health Prof. Isaac Adewole said yesterday. .
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Adewole
noted that 4.5 million adults, which is 5.6 per cent of the population,
presently use tobacco products. About 82 per cent of the entire
population are exposed to second-hand smoke when visiting bars/night
clubs. .
.
He noted that 6.4 million adults (29.3 per cent) are
exposed to second hand smoking when visiting restaurants. Adewole spoke
yesterday at a news briefing organised to mark the 2018 World No-Tobacco
Day celebration in Abuja. .
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The minister added that a recent
studies among University of Abuja undergraduates revealed that 33.3 per
cent of the students are smokers. .
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Adewole said the country is
losing $800 million annually to stroke, heart disease and diabetes. In
2015, the minister said the country’s projected accumulated loss to
tobacco was put at $7.6 billion, paradoxically. .
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Adewole, who
also spoke on the trending shisha (flavoured tobacco), said the country
would not accept tobacco consumption in whatever disguise. He stressed
the need to protect the future of the country. .
.
He regrettably
noted that the tobacco industry makes huge profits without taking
responsibility for the harm they do to public health. Explaining that
“evidence also shows that for every $1 gain from tobacco business, about
$3 is expended on healthcare cost.” .
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On the ban on shisha, the
minister said: “A key outcome of this review was the ban on all
characterising flavours, including the addition of menthol into tobacco
products. .
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This decision is to protect our children from
getting enticed by flavoured tobacco products. Let me stress that the
ban on tobacco products with characterising flavours is still in place
and the ban includes shisha because it has flavour. .
.
I
therefore urge the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) and the law
enforcement agencies to intensify arrest of defaulters. He also noted
that the latest tax increase on tobacco products was part of the efforts
at controlling tobacco consumption in the country.”
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