Tobacco coys recruit pupils to succeed ageing smokers — Report

A National research titled “Big Tobacco: Tiny Targets” has accused tobacco companies of targeting young Nigerians in primary and secondary schools for recruitment into smoking.

The report said the move was to make them succeed the dwindling number of adult and ageing smokers in Nigeria.

The report presented yesterday in Abuja by the Nigerian Tobacco Control Research Group (NTCRG), the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), and the African Tobacco Control Alliance (ATCA) shows that tobacco advertising and sales around schools affect children’s attitudes about tobacco and encourage children to smoke.

“Tobacco companies strategically situate tobacco products and advertisements near primary and secondary schools in the country with the aim of enticing kids to try the products in experimental smoking and ultimately get addicted,” the report stated.

The Coordinator the group, Dr Akindele Adebiyi who presented the report said the research was conducted in 221 schools of five states including, Lagos (18), Nasarawa (26), Enugu (38), Kaduna (65) and Ibadan Oyo (74).

The report urges government to take action including the urgent passage of the regulations guiding implementation of the National Tobacco Control (NTC) Act 2015.