Advocacy Group Calls For Passage Of National Tobacco Control Bill

A group, Tobacco Control Nigeria (TobaccoCtrl) has called on Nigerian lawmakers to pass the comprehensive National Tobacco Control Bill (NTCB) into law.

The group said this during a campaign in Lagos, when members took to the streets of Ajegunle, Lagos to sensitise residents, especially youths and children, on the need to live and advocate for a smoke-free environment. TobaccoCtrl also had a weeklong quiz competition across its social media platforms including Facebook and Twitter.

Tobaccoctrl is a policy change and public health campaign project using Social Media to advance tobacco control and support the passage of a comprehensive Tobacco Control (TC) law compliant with the World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

The campaign is to raise awareness on the various health risks of smoking and second hand smoke, as well as the toll of tobacco diseases on the Nigerian population. It also aims to encourage online and mobile followers to express their wish for a healthy environment enabled by effective TC policies for themselves, their families, and their communities.

“Every year, 600,000 people die of tobacco smoking directly or indirectly, that is why we are making this call to the public to support this campaign for tobacco control,” Project Manager of TobaccoCtrl, Olamide Egbayelo, said.

He noted further that, “Tobacco Control Nigeria is a public health and policy change campaign project using social media to advance tobacco control and support the passage of a comprehensive Tobacco Control (TC) law compliant with the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).”