Media asked to create awareness of anti-tobacco act

A non-governmental organization in Nigeria has warned that about eight million people are at risk of losing their lives to tobacco use by 2030, according to a story by Segun Olaniyi for the Lagos Guardian.

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) reportedly said that this would be the outcome if measures were not put in place urgently to halt the rate of tobacco smoking.

CISLAC called on the media, as a matter of national importance, to create awareness about the Act that aims to control the use of tobacco products in the country.

It said that despite the proven negative impact of tobacco use, most Nigerians were not aware of the existence of the Act.

The Act, which was signed into law on May 26, is said to be based on the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.