In a recent report, the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, revealed that Kano and Jigawa states are at the forefront of tobacco smoking in Nigeria.
During a one-day multi-stakeholders’ engagement on tobacco taxation in Jigawa State, organized by CISLAC with support from Tax Justice Network, Solomon Adoga, a senior programs officer at CISLAC, highlighted the concerning trend.
Emphasizing the need to reduce tobacco usage, particularly among the youth, Adoga expressed dismay over the statistics showing the high prevalence of tobacco consumption in Kano and Jigawa, with a significant number of users falling within the minor age group.
He urged the state governments to take action by adopting and implementing the National Tobacco Control Act (2015) and implementing a Tobacco Tax Policy to safeguard the future of the young generation.
Engaging with various stakeholders including traditional and religious leaders, youth groups, civil society organizations, and the media, the focus is on raising awareness about the risks associated with tobacco and advocating for the enactment of relevant laws by both the legislative and executive bodies.