FCCPC to embark on campaign against underage smoking

The Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) will soon embark on a campaign against underage smoking in tertiary institutions to safeguard the youths from the dangers of smoking.

During a one-day ‘Engagement with the Students of Tertiary Institution in Nigeria’ in Abuja, Acting Executive Vice Chairman of FCCPC, Dr Adamu Abdullahi, also called for the review of primary and secondary schools’ curricula on consumer rights.

He said, “It is very disheartening to see the numbers of sick people in the hospital as a result of smoking and the amount of money spent by the government to take care of ailments associated with smoking. The campaign is part of the penalty of the tobacco industry for wrongdoing, and we believe that is a way of giving back to the society.”

Abdullahi stressed that the move became necessary to enable pupils and students to know their rights and the activities of FCCPC in the protection of the Nigerian consumer’s rights.

“We want to inculcate in children, from day one, what those rights are and what their responsibilities are; so that they can demand and insist on them wherever they go to buy goods in the market or go for any service, to avoid their rights being infringed upon,” he stated.

According to him, other measures have been emplaced, such as consumer rights clubs in schools and end-of-year competitions for secondary and tertiary institutions to promote consumer rights among the students.

“The end-of-year competition has generated a lot of interest in the younger ones. It is a recognition for excellence in some schools, as students coming from those schools have been able to receive accolades and win various prizes, thereby promoting consumer rights among them,” he explained.

Some students and other participants, who spoke during the engagement, commended FCCPC for sustaining its efforts in protecting Nigerian consumers from wholesome products and services, over the years.

They, therefore, called for more enlightenment programmes that would sanitise the marketplaces and end sharp practices by traders, manufacturers and service providers nationwide.