The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria
(ERA/FoEN) has urged the Federal Government to take a cue from nations that
have banned the importation and smoking of water-pipe tobacco otherwise known
as shisha, due to its addictiveness and deadly effect on the health of users.
ERA/FoEN made the demand following the announced ban on the
product by a host of countries across Africa, with Kenya being the latest after
Tanzania and Rwanda.
It will be recalled that Tanzania banned the product in July
2016, while Rwanda started enforcing a ban with effect from December 15, 2017.
Other countries across the globe that have equally banned shisha are Pakistan,
Jordan, Singapore and Saudi Arabia. A recent study by University of Nairobi
found that shisha had traces of opiates, and concluded that smoking the product
has effects similar to smoking tobacco.
Pipe-sharing among users could also lead to the spread of
infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and hepatitis.
In a statement issued by Philip Jakpor, Head, Media &
Campaigns of ERA/FoEN recently and copy made available to PORT HARCOURT
BUSINESS, the group said that the reported ban on shisha across the globe and
particularly in Kenya and other African countries was a welcome development,
noting that Nigeria should not wait for shisha bans to become recruitment
centers for the under-aged before adopting a similar approach.
Akinbode Oluwafemi, ERA/FoEN, Deputy Executive Director
said: “We commend our sister African countries that have taken this bold and
life-saving step in banning this toxic product. The Nigerian government must
act in like manner to save Nigerian youths who believe that shisha is less
harmful and hype”.
Oluwafemi explained that studies show that shisha patrons
who smoke just one single session of shisha are in reality consuming the
content of about 100 or more cigarettes, even as he lamented that while patrons
of the product are portrayed as hype, they stand increased risk of heart
diseases, cancer, lung disease and many other deadly ailments. Pregnant users
also develop problems.
The ERA/FoEN boss said that the content of shisha, like
cigarettes, includes nicotine, tar, carbon monoxide, arsenic, lead and other
poisonous and cancer-causing chemicals and some contain heroin and cocaine.
He explained that the side effects of smoking shisha may not
be immediately noticeable just like cigarettes, but with time, the toxic vapors
slowly damage vital organs of the body of the smoker.
Going further, he alerted that Abuja, Port Harcourt and
other cities across the country now have thriving shisha bars patronised by the
elite, celebrities and supposed role models who not only smoke the product, but
also circulate pictures and videos of their shisha orgies on social media,
feeling cool and hype.
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