Leaders from the Uding South area of Pella District in Hong LGA, Adamawa State, including traditional, religious, and community figures, have proposed a prohibition on the unrestricted sale of tobacco as a strategy to dissuade young individuals from smoking. This recommendation emerged during an awareness initiative organized by The Eye Opener Youth and Women Foundation, a non-governmental organization. The leaders highlighted inadequate parental guidance as a significant factor contributing to behaviors like smoking, emphasizing the necessity for decisive measures to counter this trend.
They posited that implementing government controls on the distribution and sale of tobacco could substantially diminish the number of young people engaging in smoking, consequently reducing the incidence of smoking-related health issues. The leaders suggested that such regulations would serve to shield individuals from heart-related diseases and other adverse effects associated with smoking.
Umaru Hassan, the coordinator of The Eye Opener Youth and Women Foundation in Pella District, explained that the campaign’s primary goal is to enhance public understanding of the detrimental consequences of tobacco smoking. He emphasized the need to restrict the cultivation, production, and distribution of tobacco.
The event was attended by various dignitaries, including the Village Head of Uding South, Ardo Edison Taya Klakusu, Assistant Village Head Baba Adamu Gwala, as well as other community and religious leaders, retired and active educators, and numerous politicians from the region.
Reports from DAILY POST highlight the apparent ineffectiveness of the nationwide campaign against public tobacco smoking, contributing to a persistent increase in the prevalence of this habit. Notably, the issue of tobacco smoking and illicit drug activities is particularly pronounced in northern Adamawa, particularly in proximity to the borders with the Cameroon Republic, including the Hong LGA.