COP 11: CSOs Warn Nigeria Team Make Dem Shun Tobacco Industry

Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) wey dey work on tobacco control don warn Nigeria’s delegation to di 11th session of di Conference of di Parties (COP 11) to di WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) wey dey start today for Geneva, Switzerland, make dem no allow tobacco industry or dia allies influence dia decisions. For dia joint statement, di CSOs raise alarm say tobacco industry don start new global campaign to enter COP 11 discussions through proxies so dem fit push delegates make dem support and legalise nicotine-based and other new products, including e-cigarettes, under di guise of harm reduction. Organisations like Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA), CAPPA, Gatefield, ERA/FoEN, Centre for Youth Inclusion and Development and other public health groups warn say di Nigerian delegation must not sell out Nigeria’s public health. Dem tell Nigerian government and delegates make dem reject any tobacco industry funding, partnership or influence, reminding dem say Nigerians go hold dem fully accountable if dem undermine di fight against tobacco and nicotine addiction, especially as Sections 25-28, 33-34 and 38(2) of di National Tobacco Control Act forbid government officers from any relationship with di industry or dia proxies.

Di CSOs also remind delegates say Article 5.3 of di Convention dey mandate all parties to protect public health policies from commercial and vested interests of di tobacco industry. For di statement signed by Robert Egbe, Media and Communication Officer for CAPPA, di group describe novel nicotine-based products as “new faces of di same deadly business,” warning say industry interference still remain di biggest obstacle to effective tobacco control. Dem caution say introducing novel nicotine products fit wipe out di public health progress wey Nigeria don make under di National Tobacco Control Act and related policies. Dem insist say as global negotiations dey begin for COP 11, di Nigerian delegation must act in di nation’s best interest and safeguard Nigerians from tactics wey go weaken tobacco control or give tobacco industry new room to operate.