Abuja - FCT Minister Aliyu Modibbo has called on relevant agencies to impose stringent taxes on tobacco production and consumption.
The minister made the call in Abuja at the opening ceremony of the African Regional Workshop on Strategy for the Control of Tobacco.
Modibbo said that heavy taxes on the product would discourage smoking among youths.
“When tobacco is made very expensive, smokers will be discouraged and be forced to drop this bad habit that tends to affect their health and that of other people,” Modibbo noted.
He said poor health arising from tobacco intake had led to a reduction in productivity with its attendant negative effects on the economy.
According to him, the FCT Administration is committed to the fight against tobacco smoking in public places and will sustain the campaign.
“The FCT Administration is already championing the modification of the law prohibiting smoking in public places in the country through the National Assembly,” he said.
He further said the FCTA was committed to making Abuja the first city in the West African sub-region to declare smoking in public places illegal.
The Minister of Health, Dr Mohammed Lawal said the government would strengthen the
regulation on the establishment of tobacco companies in the country.
Lawal said tobacco smoking was responsible for more than 25 diseases, including hypertension, heart attack, cancer, asthma, emphysema and pregnancy related health problems.
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