From Muawuya Bala Idris, Katsina
A non-governmental organization (NGO), the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC), has called on the Federal Government to review upward taxes on tobacco products in order to reduce their consumption, especially among poor households.
The Executive Director of CISLAC, Auwal Ibrahim Rafsanjani, made the call during a one-day training on Tobacco Taxation and Gender Mainstream Advocacy organized for working journalists in Katsina State.
Rafsanjani said the prices of tobacco products in Nigeria remain among the cheapest in the world, adding that this has contributed to their high consumption.
He noted that increasing taxes on tobacco would make the products more expensive and discourage many Nigerians from using them.
Represented by CISLAC Programme Manager, Mohammed Murtala, he said the training was organized to encourage participants to join the global campaign against the harmful effects of tobacco use, especially on health.
He also expressed concern over the smoking of tobacco in public places despite existing laws banning such practices.
He urged the media to intensify awareness and advocate for strict enforcement of the law to protect the health of non-smokers.
Earlier, Solomon Adoga of CISLAC said tobacco use imposes a significant economic burden on individuals, families, and the health system.
He described tobacco as “deadly” and “a scourge on the nation’s health, economy, and development.”
According to him, all forms of tobacco, including cigarettes, shisha, smokeless tobacco, and e-cigarettes, are dangerous and poisonous, as they cause cancers of the mouth, throat, and bladder.
Adoga, quoting the World Health Organization (WHO), said tobacco kills about eight million people annually, noting that about seven million deaths result from direct tobacco use, while around 1.2 million are non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke.
Meanwhile, participants at the training commended CISLAC for its awareness campaign on the health effects of tobacco consumption and pledged to disseminate the message to the general public.
