Regulatory Agencies in charge of the Tobacco industry have been accused of failing in their duties and effective implementation of graphic health warnings on all tobacco products.

Speaking with journalists, in Abuja, chairman, Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said it is over a month now that the first set of warnings, a contract image of health lungs and diseased lungs of a smoker which was issued on June 2021, expired over a month ago.

“The first set of warnings, a contrast image of healthy lungs and diseased lungs of a smoker was issued on June 23, 2021, and expired on June 22, 2023, after a period of two years.

“It is now one month since the warnings expired, and as an alliance we alerted our members in the Federal Capital Territory, as well as Ebonyi, Kano and Lagos States to monitor compliance with the second phase of the warnings.

“It is shocking to reveal that compliance is at a flat 0 per cent. This is totally unacceptable. The tobacco industry should not undermine the laws governing its business in Nigeria.” said Oluwafemi

He added that no agency of government has implemented the provision to make the players in tobacco industry to comply with extant law of the country, threatening that the civil society would no longer fold hands and watch ordinary Nigerians to lose their lives to the negligence of government agencies.

Oluwafemi, alleged that the profit centered Tobacco Industry is foot dragging to weaken the policy because it knows that graphic health warnings reduce the number of people who start smoking, just as it encourages current smokers.

He said that the warnings can also reduce the economic burden of tobacco use, by cutting the number of people who start smoking and encouraging current smokers to quit, thus lowering the cost associated with treating Tobacco related diseases.

Other stakeholders at the briefing called on the Federal Government to intensify the implementation of graphic health warnings on tobacco products.

The Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance, urged the Standard Organization of Nigeria, Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, Nigeria Customs Service and the Federal Ministry of Health, to ensure the speedy implementation of graphic health warnings on all tobacco products in Nigeria.