NATOCC meets in Abuja
The National Tobacco Control Committee (NATOCC) established by Section 2. (1) of the National Tobacco Control Act, 2015, has the mandate to coordinate tobacco control efforts in the country and provide counsel to the Minister of Health on the implementation of tobacco control policies in line with the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.
The Committee met for three days; 20th, 21st and 22nd September 2022 to deliberate on critical tobacco control issues. The meeting which was presided by the NATOCC Chairperson, Dr. Bridget Okeoguale, had several Ministries and agencies listed in the National Tobacco Control Act in attendance, while the civil society was represented by the Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA).
After deliberating on critical tobacco control issues, the meeting was also an opportunity to educate NATOCC members and stakeholders in tobacco control on novel/emerging tobacco products targeted at the African market, especially Nigeria.
Some key personalities who offered their voices to the tobacco-free Nigeria cause were, Dr. Prasat Vinayak Mohan, Head of Tobacco Control, WHO HQ, and Mr. Solomon Adodo, President, National Youth Council of Nigeria, who pledged to mobilize young people towards the effective control of tobacco in the country.