The Federal Government of Nigeria has reiterated its dedication to addressing tobacco use among children within the country.
During a courtesy visit by Ms. Bintou Camara, the Regional Director of the Tobacco Control Programme (AFRO) for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Minister of Youth and Development, Jamila Ibrahim, made this commitment in Abuja on Friday.
Ibrahim emphasized that tobacco consumption among children poses a significant challenge in Nigeria. She stressed the importance of forming partnerships and collaborating with relevant stakeholders to educate the Nigerian populace about the health consequences of tobacco use among young individuals.
“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.
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