Kwara lawmakers move to curb increasing vaping, e-cigarette among youths

By Mosunmola Ayobami, Ilorin

The Kwara state House of Assembly has urged parents, teachers, guardians, among others to engage youths in meaningful conversations concerning the health effect of e-cigarettes.

The lawmakers enjoined the state governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to direct Ministry of Health to collaborate with Ministry of Communications to commence on continuous mass media campaigns to educate both business owners and young people about the dangers of vaping and e-cigarettes in Kwara State.

This was in a motion tagged “the need to address the Increasing Prevalence Of Vaping And E-Cigarette Among Youth In Kwara State” KWHAM 6, moved by Hon. Arinola Fatima Lawal (Ilorin East) and seconded by Hon. Bamigboye Joseph Olajire (Oke-Ero) on Wednesday during plenary.

In leading the debate, Hon. Arinola Fatima Lawal expressed awareness that e-cigarette are devices powered by batteries that provide vaporized nicotine and other numerous chemical components which re-create the sensation derived from smoking conventional cigarettes without involving the combustion of tobacco.

She informed the House that the introduction of e-cigarettes for retail sale was initially to help combustible cigarette smokers quit smoking, hence it became a more socially acceptable alternatives to combustible cigarettes among adolescents and young adults due to their attractive design, user-friendly functions, less aversive smoking experiences, desirable flavors and the ability to be used discreetly.

She expressed concern that some factors like parental smoking, peer influence, social situations, aggressive marketing strategies, and the easy availability of e-cigarettes contributed to their popularity among youths, leading to increased experimentation and use.

She further expressed worry that many young adults are unaware of the health consequences of e-cigarettes and vaping cartridge as they contain known carcinogens and inhaling cancer causing chemicals which increases the risk of cancer, heart and lung diseases, anxiety depression and other mental issues.

They called on the State Government to implement stricter regulations on the sales of e-cigarettes to minors and stricter for non-compliance.