The Federal Government of Nigeria has reiterated its commitment to addressing the issue of tobacco use among children in the country.
The Minister of Youth and Development, Jamila Ibrahim on Friday, in Abuja emphasized the significant challenge posed by tobacco smoking among children in Nigeria.
During a courtesy visit by Ms. Bintou Camara, the Regional Director of the Tobacco Control Programme (AFRO) Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Minister Ibrahim stressed the need for collaboration with relevant stakeholders to raise awareness about the health consequences of tobacco smoking among young people.
“We will focus on adolescent health. It is the area where we need to be proactive in putting mechanisms in place to achieve a preventive approach to tobacco smoking among the kids.
“We must work with the act that bans tobacco smoking in public places, especially to prevent secondhand smoke,” she said.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO), had a few months ago disclosed that about 30,000 Nigerians die annually of tobacco-related diseases.