Lara Adejoro Civil Society Organisations have called on the Federal Government and regulatory agencies to ensure the effective implementation of Graphic Health Warnings on all tobacco products, including shisha and flavoured vapes. They insisted this remains an important step that will reduce the side effects of tobacco use and protect the health of Nigerians. Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, the Chairman of Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance, Akinbode Oluwafemi said compliance is low on shisha and flavoured capes.
He said, “There are concerns in Nigeria about the increasing use of tobacco products, especially the use of shisha and new tobacco products among our young population despite the serious health implications. “The introduction of Graphic Health Warnings has been proven as an effective way of reducing tobacco use and its associated harms. Studies have also shown that GHWs are more effective than text-only warnings in communicating the risks associated with tobacco use.
They are also more likely to be noticed and remembered by users and intending users. “This measure is contained in Article 11 of the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and in our local laws. Section 20 of the National Tobacco Control Act, 2015 requires manufacturers, importers, and distributors of tobacco products to ensure that their products carry fully coloured graphic health warnings, covering at least 50 per cent of the principal display area and that the .