Previously, all cigarette packs bore a single warning - "The Federal Ministry of Health Warns that smokers are liable to die young." However, this stark message was criticized for its vagueness. In response to the global tobacco epidemic, the World Health Organization (WHO) introduced the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) in 2005. This international treaty emphasizes the importance of clear, pictorial, and text warnings on tobacco product packaging to educate consumers about the associated health risks.
As the government moves towards stricter regulations and more comprehensive health warnings on cigarette packaging, the case of Bayo highlights the need for increased awareness and education on the dangers of smoking, especially among vulnerable populations.
Activists and advocates are eagerly awaiting what the Federal Government has to offer. However, they are wary of the influence, capacity, and reach of the tobacco industry. The industry, especially in Nigeria, has seemingly gone underground as their activities are now shrouded in mystery. A good example is Oke-Ogun in Oyo State, known for tobacco farming. However, with the anti-tobacco campaign, the farmers claimed to have transitioned to cultivating other crops. But the confusion as to what they are planting and selling is a display of what the tobacco industry can do from afar.
The most insidious thing the tobacco industry can do is claim they have a program for farmers transitioning from tobacco farming to other crops. When advocates from Corporate Accountability and Public Participation (CAPPA) visited Oke-Ogun, no evidence of this claim was found. Calls to improve the health hazards these farmers have been exposed to have been disregarded. This means the need for substantial support for any tobacco farmer in transition, such as financial aid, affordable agricultural loans, and insurance products, might remain a mere wish.
To be fair, the Federal Government has been taking steps towards the campaign and enforcement of the policy. However, the Ministry of Health needs to enhance its collaboration with the Consumer Protection Commission (CPC), the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), the Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA), and other government agencies and civil society organizations to ensure they leverage the opportunity presented by the introduction of new graphic health warnings on cigarette packs. They require advocates who can reach the streets and rural areas for this campaign. Currently, their activities appear to be limited to the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos, Kano, and Cross River states.
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