Fred Ezeh, Abuja

Director General of the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Babatunde Irukera, has said the agency is working with other agencies to either consider a ban on tobacco in Nigeria or or approve stiffer sanctions that would discourage more people from accessing the product.

Irukera said this in Abuja, yesterday, at an event to mark the 2018 World No Tobacco Day, yesterday.

“Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) convened a technical committee meeting recently and the issue of ‘Shisha’ was extensively discussed; like every other tobacco product.

“The new National Industrial Standards (NIS), documents are undergoing some review. It is after then that we will make definite pronouncement on ban or otherwise of these products. But, until then, the products are accessible for public consumption,” he said.

In a related development, the Federal Government is considering “better” ways of fighting tobacco consumption in Nigeria.

Aside significant tax increase in tobacco products and other alcoholic drinks, which took effect on Monday, government is considering stiffer measures that would make the products unreachable and unaffordable for certain categories of Nigerians.

Health Minister, Prof. Issac Adewole, told newsmen in Abuja, yesterday, at the same event, that government is thinking of tax on each stick of cigarette as against a packet of 20 sticks, in addition to other measures that would soon come into effect.

This, he said, would discourage the younger generation from accessing the product unlike when it comes cheap to them.

“Many say that professors and other learned people consume tobacco but, that could not an excuse. Tobacco is addictive and it is advisable not to start consumption because it will be extremely difficult to stop.”

He highlighted a World Health Organisation (WHO)  report which indicated that cancer, diabetes and other chronic respiratory diseases killed 38 million, out of 56 million deaths recorded globally  in 2014, and more than

40 percent of the deaths were below 70 years.
“Notwithstanding, we will continue to choke tobacco until it is dead. Most worrisome now is that it comes in different flavoured form named Shisha. They are very harmful to the health,” he insisted.