CHHELD ATTENDS CAPACITY BUILDING WORKSHOP ON THE NIGERIA TOBACCO POLICY LANDSCAPE: THE ROLE OF STATES IN TOBACCO CONTROL

The capacity building workshop on The Nigeria Tobacco Policy Landscape: The Role of States in Tobacco Control was organized by the Centre for the Economies of Africa (CSEA) in Partnership with Development Gateway and the Cancer Research UK. The workshop which took place on the 26th & 27th July, 2023 at Visa Karena Hotel, Port Harcourt, was focused on the role of the state government and other stakeholders on tobacco control. It is known fact that 29,000 deaths in the country annually comes from the consumption of tobacco (WHO 2022). The economic consequences of tobacco related diseases on the Nigerian economy are reported to be US$1.71 billion per year including both direct and indirect tobacco expenses (CSEA). Tobacco smokers have a ten-year lower life expectancy than non-smokers (Centre for Disease Control and Prevention). The goal of the project is strengthening Nigeria’s tobacco control strategies and implementing global best practices through collaborations with researchers, CSOs, government in deepening capacity for more effective policy implementation at the sub-national levels. The workshop also focused on finding out from all stakeholders the steps taken by the Rivers State government on tobacco control and the roles stakeholders can play by advocating for more policies and legislation on tobacco control in the state and federal levels. 

Mr. Ezra Ihezie, Research Associate with CSEA making a presentation on Mpower framework and role of Sub-national government

PROGRESS OF TOBACCO CONTROL IN NIGERIA

 

In the 1950s, Nigeria began to regulate tobacco, but the tobacco control industry undermined these efforts consistently (Egbe et all, 2017). After the colonial government the first indigenous tobacco control in Nigeria, tobacco smoking control decree 20, enacted in 1990 failed to achieve its objective due to effective implementation. The tobacco industry also blocked an attempt in 1995 to strengthen the decree 20(Egbe et al, 2017). When Nigeria returned to the democratic rule in 1999, an attempt to pass another tobacco control law was made through tobacco smoking control amendment bill in 2000. The bill aimed to convert decree 20 into an act but this attempt was unsuccessful and the bill did not become law. In 2002 another attempt was made when the cigarettes and other tobacco products bill was introduced, however, the bill did not pass as a result of the obstructive influence of the tobacco industry. There were no more legislative activities on tobacco control until 2008, when a member of the senate committee on Health introduced the National Tobacco Control Bill (NTCB). The senate delayed the action on NTCB for two years after hearing due to the influence of the tobacco industry. The national assembly however passed the NTCB in March 2011 without establishing 100 percent smoke-free public places or banning advertising. The NTCB did not become law immediately because the president did not give his consent, however, it was signed into law in 2015. Also, in June 2019, the National Tobacco Control Regulations (NTCR) was passed. In the NTCR, several provisions of the National Tobacco Act of 2015 have been implemented, including smoke free places, tobacco packaging and labelling, tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, preventing tobacco industry interference and tobacco product disclosure.

 

In respect to the regulation in consumption of tobacco, access to tobacco by underage citizens, health implications it is important to create tobacco control policies in the state. It was noted that out of the 36 states in Nigeria, along with FCT, only 3 states (Oyo, Lagos and Ekiti) have successfully implemented tobacco laws thus far. It is crucial for the state governments in Nigeria to be crucially involved in tobacco control for two crucial reasons;

 

1. State government plays a key role in enacting and enforcing tobacco control measures such as laws prohibiting smoking in public places, banning tobacco advertising and regulating the sale of tobacco.

 

2. High health cost arising from tobacco related illnesses place a significant burden on the state government especially on providing health care services and treating tobacco related diseases. 

 

The MPOWER tobacco control framework, developed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) provides a roadmap for effective tobacco control efforts that can guide state governments in supporting the efforts of the federal government in tobacco control. The MPOWER framework consists of six proven strategies that can be implemented to reduce tobacco use and its associated harms. These strategies include;

1. Monitoring tobacco use and prevention policies; state government can monitor tobacco use and its associated harms through data collection and analysis. This can help inform tobacco control policies and programs.

 

2. Protecting people from tobacco smoke; State government can protect citizens from second-hand smoke by enacting laws that ban smoking in public places and enforcing these laws.

 

3. Offering help to quit tobacco use; Government can support tobacco users in quitting by offering access to cessation services and treatment.

 

4. Warning about the dangers of tobacco; State government can implement health warnings on tobacco products and advertising to raise awareness of the harms of tobacco use.

 

5. Enforcing bans on tobacco advertising, promotion, and sponsorship; State government can enforce bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship to reduce the influence of the tobacco industry.

6. Raising taxes on tobacco; State government can advocate for increase taxes on tobacco products to reduce tobacco consumption and generate revenue for tobacco control programs.

 

He called for a state level survey to serves as an evidence and data in guide policy decisions such as the monitoring of the media space to protect citizens from exposure to illicit content on tobacco, restriction of advertisement, prohibition of free distribution of tobacco in the public, requirement of face-to-face interaction between buyers and sellers in order to curb the consumption of tobacco by underaged members of society, etc. He called for tobacco cessation infrastructures in primary health care centres and virtual helplines, and public awareness and sensitization on the dangers of tobacco use. 

The second session was on administering the diagnostic toolkit, the session was facilitated by Sixtus Onyekwere, Research Associate with CSEA. A diagnostic toolkit designed specifically for state governments in Nigeria. The toolkit serves as a comprehensive resort aimed at deepening stakeholders understanding and commitment on tobacco control at the State level. It provides guidance, clarity and practical framework necessary for tobacco control and implementation. Key functions of the toolkit include:

1. It aids policy makers in identifying issues and challenges that requires attention through policy intervention

2. Facilitate assessment of impacts of existing tobacco control policies and programs

3. It helps policy makers with necessity data and information to deepen evidence-based strategies.

4. Monitoring the implementation of tobacco control policies and programs.

The toolkit survey was administered to all stakeholders to point out steps taken by the Rivers State government and to identify constraints by the state and other stakeholders in advocating for tobacco control. Stakeholders were shared in group to discuss constraints, such as time, infrastructure, skills, coordination, budget/finance, etc and steps to be taken by the CSO and state government to overcome these constraints. 

 

Cross section of participants during training workshop

The second day of the workshop

The second day of the workshop began with a session moderated by the communication officer, Kemi Odesola, and participants had a recap of the previous day of the workshop, asked pertinent questions and made contributions.

 

The major focus of the second day of the workshop was a live demonstration of accessing data for tobacco control. The session was facilitated by Ms. Seember Ali, a research associate with Development Gateway. She pointed out the need for data and information in course of advocacy for the implementation of laws and policies on tobacco control. She presented the Tobacco Control Development Initiative dashboard, a source of data on tobacco. It is an interactive portal that collects, analyzes and presents data and information on tobacco control in Nigeria through rigorous primary and secondary research.  The data was gathered after research and partnerships from different organizations, such as the NDHS, WHO, Federal Ministry of Health, Federal Ministry of Justice, Federal Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Federal Inland Revenue Service, Nigeria Custom Service, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, University of Capetown, CSEA, CISLAC, CAPPA, etc. Data was gathered for 6 Africa countries, Nigeria, South Africa, DCR, Kenya, Ethiopia and Zambia. Data gathered cut across 6 themes; prevalence, taxation, tobacco harm, industry interference, illicit trade and Shisha. 

 

The last session of the workshop was the Breakout session where participants were shared in groups to discuss data across the 6 six themes, make recommendations and suggest ways data can be used for advocacy.

Ms. Seember Ali, Research Associate with Development Gateway facilitating session on Tobacco Control Development Initiative dashboard
Group photograph for participants at the first day of the capacity workshop on Tobacco Control
Group photograph for participants on the second day of the capacity workshop on Tobacco Control
CHHELD Program officer, David Prince at the capacity workshop on The Nigeria Tobacco Policy Landscape: The Role of States in Tobacco Control

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