FG reaffirms commitment to tackle tobacco smoking among children in Nigeria

The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to tackle tobacco use by children in the country.

The Minister of Youth and Development, Jamila Ibrahim, said this in Abuja on Friday, when Ms Bintou Camara, Regional Director, Tobacco Control Programme (AFRO) Campaign for Tobacco – Free Kids, paid her a courtesy visit.

Ibrahim insisted that tobacco smoking among children was a big challenge facing Nigeria.

The minister said the country needs to partner and collaborate with relevant stakeholders to educate Nigerians about the health implications of tobacco smoking among young people.

“We will focus on adolescent health. It is the area where we need to be proactive in putting mechanisms in place to achieve a preventive approach to tobacco smoking among the kids.

“We must work with the act that bans tobacco smoking in public places, especially to prevent secondhand smoke,” she said.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO), had a few months ago disclosed that about 30,000 Nigerians die annually of tobacco-related diseases.