The Blog of Adeola Akinremi

FCA workshop throws up new groups in Africa

The West Africa Regional Workshop of the Framework Convention Alliance (FCA) in Accra , Ghana has thrown up new tobacco control groups in the sub-region with deep passion to strongly push for public health safety through the instrument of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Tobacco Companies don’t deserve Tax Waiver

That the tobacco industry has consistently and historically used campaign of contribution to our economy to harass our government is not a hidden truth.

South Africa may host COP 3

The possibility of South Africa hosting the 3rd Conference of the Parties (COP3) to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control is almost certain if the current support being enjoyed by the country among other countries bidding for the hosting right is anything to go by.

Africa bids for COP 3

As the second session of the conference of parties to the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control enters its fourth day in Bangkok, Thailand there is a general concern among delegates for the third session of the COP to take place in another developing country, possibly on the continent of Africa.

Tobacco giants ‘targeted African children to boost flagging profits’

By Tosin Sulaiman for Times On line

British American Tobacco (BAT) and Philip Morris face allegations that they targeted young and underage smokers in Nigeria to increase smoking rates in developing countries as sales decline in the West.

Article 8: The Heat Subsides

The article 8 (protection against exposure to tobacco smoke) has made historic entrance in the FCTC Guinness book of record as the very first Article to be agreed on without delay. Perhaps there has been no article that generates so much heat during the COP2 than article 8 as delegates begin to arrive to the UNCC venue of this year's COP.

World Customs Organization backs call for Protocol on Illicit Trade

The call for immediate establishment of a subsidiary body to begin negotiation of a protocol on illicit trade has received strong backing from the World Customs Organization, the intergovernmental agency of customs administrations.

WCO representative Kazunari Igarashi, who addressed participants during the lunchtime briefing on illicit trade yesterday, said that, “in principle we need international concerted action to counter any act of illicit trade in tobacco product, including counterfeit.”

Illicit Tobacco Trade: Africa Must Unite

The soul of Africa is on the line as Big Tobacco recently matched plans with action by opening manufacturing plants in Senegal, Mauritius and other African countries.

Without a collective strong position at this meeting to checkmate the attempted partitioning of Africa by the industry, the poorest Africans nations will suffer.

BATN Comes Under Students' Threat

The Oyo state chapter of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), has threatened to mobilise students in the state against the British American Tobacco Company (BAT) in Ibadan.

The association which accused the company of being "insensitive to the plight of students," alleged that its activities were "causing health hazards."

Signed by JCC National Secretary General Usman Jafaru, the communiqué accused BAT of "not doing enough in terms of enlightenment campaign in tertiary institutions on the dangers of tobacco."

Lawsuit: BAT Plots to Kill Media Reports in Nigeria

British American Tobacco has begun  a ‘kill it’ aggressive campaign against Nigerian journalists following wide reports of the legal action instituted against it by some Nigerian states and Environmental Rights  Action/Friends of the Earth-Nigeria

BAT’s officials are now regularly meeting media owners and editors in Nigeria to stifle reports.

The proof BAT breaks its own marketing code

At BAT’s AGM on 26 April I  protested that BAT was selling cigarettes in quantities of two rather than packs of ten and twenty - a practice made illegal in the UK in 1991 as it makes cigarettes cheaper to buy for underage smokers. When Jeffries Briginshaw,BAT's  Head of International Political and Regulatory Affairs, insisted this was not the case I pulled out a copy of the advertisement as proof.

 

BAT admits breach of its marketing code

Following the release of ASH’s report - “You’ve got to be kidding” -  into the way BAT markets its cigarettes to young people around the world, the company has acknowledged in a letter to ASH that it has started an investigation into the marketing breaches highlighted by ASH.  The world’s second largest tobacco company says it will investigate and report on its findings.

BAT has not revealed the nature of the potential breaches but the company claims not to market any of its products to young people. However,  examples include the selling of single cigarettes to children in Nigeria and the blatant sexism of a promotion for Pall Mall cigarettes in Brazil.

Lagos sues tobacco firms for N2.7 trillion over health hazards

The Lagos State Government and Environmental Rights Action (ERA) have filed an action at the Lagos State High Court against several big tobacco companies seeking extensive reliefs that intend to regulate tobacco smoking especially as it affects youth and under-aged smokers.

Pack Warnings: which way Africa?

The FCTC allows parties an accelerated period of three (3) years to introduce package warnings upon ratification. Thus, for the African countries that have ratified and made it to the COP1 they have less than two years to make good their promise to abide by the regulations of the FCTC.

In more ways than one, the warning label as contained in the article 11 of the FCTC would help Africa, if quickly implemented.

African Delegates and COP 2: A Challenge for African NGOs

In the weeks ahead across Africa, established tobacco control groups and the emerging ones would have the herculean task of helping their government delegates to the COP2 fine-tune their wishes and demands as they prepare for this second meeting of the parties.

At this stage, we must not underestimate the role we can play as NGO sector in influencing the contribution of African delegates at the COP2.

Tobacco Industry campaign of calumny

The Tobacco industry in Africa have stepped up campaigns in the newspapers across Africa in recent time to forestall full implementation of FCTC in countries where it has been ratified. The newspapers across Africa are daily awashed with reports of increased smuggling of cigarrette into Africa. The industry would want African governments believe that strict law against the industry is encouraging smuggling of cigarettes.

What's the Future of African Tobacco Control Movement?

The global tobacco control movement has been one of an exciting movement with increased number of advocates each year ending. And just like those who kicked started the movement the new entrants have based their conviction on compassion and support for the truth.  Significantly, however, the swelling numbers of tobacco control advocates are not to be found in Africa.

Report on BAT's "Experience It" campaign

This report was written by Adeola Akinremi in 2002.
In November 2002, BAT launched a promotional campaign called "Experience It" in Nigeria, featuring five blockbuster Hollywood films. 

INDEX - List of all the posts

• South Africa may host COP 3

• Africa bids for COP 3

• Tobacco giants ‘targeted African children to boost flagging profits’

• Article 8: The Heat Subsides

• World Customs Organization backs call for Protocol on Illicit Trade

• Illicit Tobacco Trade: Africa Must Unite

• BATN Comes Under Students' Threat

• Lawsuit: BAT Plots to Kill Media Reports in Nigeria

• The proof BAT breaks its own marketing code

• BAT admits breach of its marketing code

• Lagos sues tobacco firms for N2.7 trillion over health hazards

• Pack Warnings: which way Africa?

• African Delegates and COP 2: A Challenge for African NGOs

• Tobacco Industry campaign of calumny

• What's the Future of African Tobacco Control Movement?

• Report on BAT's "Experience It" campaign