are addicted to smoking tobacco substances,the minister of
health,Prof.Adewole has announced the ban of cigarettes sale to
persons under the age of 18 in Nigeria.
He said: "Having carefully
analysed the NTC Act
2015, I wish to announce with high sense of responsibility that
government will begin implementing the
following provisions;"
Adewole said.
He listed the actions to
be implemented as
follows; "Prohibition of sale of tobacco products to and by anyone
below 18; ban of sale of cigarettes in single
sticks. Cigarettes must
be sold in packs of 20 sticks only; and smokeless tobacco shall be
sold in a minimum of
a pack of 30 grams. .
"Ban of sale or offer for
sale or distribution of tobacco or tobacco
products through mail,
internet or other online
device; prohibition of
interference of tobacco
industry in public health and related issues; and
Prohibition of smoking
in anywhere on the
premises of a child care
facility; educational
facility; and health care facility. . Other prohibited places for
smoking include playgrounds; amusement parks; plazas; public parks;
stadium, public transports, restaurants, bars, or other public
gathering spaces." . The minister also directed the "prosecution of
owner or
manager of any of the places
listed above, who permits,
encourages or fails to stop
smoking in the above listed places; prohibition of tobacco
advertising, promotion and
sponsorship of any kind; and
compliance with specified
standard for content as set
out by Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON). . Adewole noted that available
WHO evidence indicates that
tobacco use costs national
economies immensely,
through increased healthcare
cost and decrease productivity, adding that it
worsens health inequalities
and increase poverty as the
poorest people spend less on
essentials such as food,
education and health care. . He said the country is
currently exploring using
tobacco tax and levies as
means of financing the
Universal Health Coverage
agenda of the Buhari administration
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