The Kano State government has expressed concern over the increasing consumption of cigarettes among youths.
Dr. Labaran Yusuf, the state commissioner of health, expressed concern during a meeting with journalists to commemorate the World No Tobacco Day in Kano. He revealed that a study indicated that 6.2% of youths in Kano smoke cigarettes, with 11.4% of boys and 1.8% of girls being part of this trend. Dr. Yusuf attributed this to rising income, increased affordability of cigarettes, and the tobacco industry’s aggressive marketing strategies.
It was also added that globally, tobacco use causes over eight million deaths annually, with more than seven million of those deaths being directly related to tobacco use and about 1.2 million deaths due to non-smokers being exposed to second-hand smoke. Additionally, the World Health Organisation notes that over 80% of the world’s 1.3 billion tobacco users live in low- and middle-income countries. Furthermore, it has been observed that tobacco smoking is on the rise in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria.
To address the increasing tobacco consumption, Dr. Yusuf emphasised the need for governments to implement stronger tobacco control policies. This includes creating awareness about the dangers of tobacco smoking, raising taxes to increase the prices of tobacco products, and other necessary measures.
