Dr. Ifeanyi Okeke, DG/CE Standards Organisation of Nigeria with Mr. Daere Akobo, Chairman of PANA Holdings Limited | Photo: SON
‘Snus reduces the urge to smoke and the risk of lung cancer’
By Valentine Amanze
The Director General of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Ifeanyi Okeke, has commended the management of PANA Holdings Limited for the innovative alternative to reduce the use of cigarettes thereby raising life expectancy in Africa through its latest venture – Afriksnus – which exclusively distributes Snus in Nigeria.
Snus reduces the urge to smoke and the risk of lung cancer.
The SON boss made the commendation during a meeting with the Chairman and Management of PANA Holdings Group at the SON Corporate Headquarters, Abuja, recently.
Okeke also assured that SON, as the apex standard body in Nigeria and a business enabler, would provide the support and partnership required to kick-start the project effectively to achieve the desired results via quality assurance.
Mr. Daere Akobo, the chairman, PANA Holdings Groups, had appealed for SON’s involvement and partnership in the certification process of the product.
Also read: Rapid industrialization of Nigeria is my mission, says SON DG, Okeke
Explaining more on Snus, Mr. Maxfield McKinnon, COO of GN Tobacco, Sweden, who attended the meeting, disclosed that they granted Afriksnus the exclusive rights to distribute Snus.
He said that GN Tobacco is a reputable manufacturer of Snus products with unparalleled expertise and services.
“Snus is a moist, finely ground, smokeless tobacco product originating from a variant of dry snuff in the early 18th century used by placing it between the upper lip and gum,” he said.
On the uniqueness and advantages of the product, McKinnon said, “Snus is not burned and no smoke is inhaled (non-combustible tobacco product) hence, some terrible effects of smoking are not present.”
According to him, for people battling addiction to smoking, it serves as a medium of relieving the airways of carbon monoxide, reducing the urge to smoke and the risk of lung cancer.
The meeting was an avenue for the Management of PANA Holdings Groups to discuss their activities which include flow control, flow measurement, pipeline surveillance /leak detection and most importantly to introduce their new venture, Afriksnus.
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