By Emma Una, Vanguard Newspaper
The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC, has expressed concern over the high number of girls using shisha tobacco as a stimulant in Cross River State.
The FCCPC which carried out checks on tobacco shops and sensitisation exercise in Calabar and hinterlands of the State observed that the drug which is predominantly used by girls is in widespread use in places like Ikom, Ugep and Obubra in central parts of the State.
Speaking with newsmen after checks on cigarette packs in shops and sales points, Mr. Chibuike Nwokorie, Program Officer with Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance said the drug is seen as a trending lifestyle which is not harsh like other hard drugs but that such assumption is erroneous because it is actually harmful and addictive.
“A survey by our team across the State shows that those hooked on shisha see it as just a puff of smoke which does not affect their organs but that is wrong because it is addictive and harmful; it is the gateway to other hard drugs and must be stopped immediately.”
He said the sale of ground tobacco called snuff which is sold in little plastic cans is widespread in the State and such cans have no warning or pictorial signs on the health danger to users on the cans to caution users of the dangers of taking the snuff.
“We have told them that this time we are only carrying out checks and sensitisation exercises but next time we will impound snuff and any other tobacco products we see on sale here which have no bold pictorial warnings on their packs or cans through which such tobacco is dispensed,” he said.
Mr. Nwokorie stated that most cigarette packs have bold warning pictures to depict the dangers tobacco inflicts in the body particularly the lungs but next year, the pictures would be more graphic.
He said yearly, tobacco use is responsible for the death of millions around the world. He said, “It has been established that tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable deaths globally and in Nigeria over 28,000 people die annually from tobacco use.
“The picture used must be of the highest quality and must clearly depict the negative effects of tobacco on the health of smokers and those close to them. Graphics warnings have proven to be effective in causing cessation of tobacco use just as studies show graphic health warnings on tobacco products increase quit attempts by smokers or users of tobacco products.”
He said the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria Customs, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, National Security and Civil Defence Corps, Nigeria Police have all been mandated by the NTC Act to enforce the policy.