Tobacco Bill: Era Celebrates, Hails Senate

Tobacco Bill: Era Celebrates, Hails Senate

It was party time for staff of Environmental Rights Action (ERA) in Lagos, Benin City, and Port Harcourt on Tuesday, as a cheery news from Abuja sets the foremost environmental rights advocacy group agog with joy.They were also full of praises for the Nigerian Senate for passing the National Tobacco Control Bill. The elated group said the legislative house has delivered a major public health tool that will save the lives of millions of Nigerians from tobacco-induced deaths.

AkanimoReports says the Senate had in a unanimous vote passed the Bill which was sponsored by Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora representing Lagos East Senatorial District.

The bill domesticates the World health Organisation (W.H.O) initiated Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), a global standard for tobacco control. Nigeria has signed and ratified the treaty.

Its major highlights include: Ban on single sticks sale of cigarettes; ban on tobacco advertisement, sponsorship and promotions, ban on selling cigarettes to persons under the age of 18; ban on smoking of tobacco products in public places which includes airports and public buildings; and ban on selling single stick cigarettes, among others.

ERA Director of Campaigns, Akinbode Oluwafemi told a correspondent of AkanimoReports in Lagos, ''we salute the courage of the Nigerian Senate for giving this nation a strong tool to revert growing deaths from tobacco products. Though this has taken us so long, we are confident that this bill will save millions of our brothers and sisters from tobacco -related deaths.”

The group commended the sponsor of the bill Senator Mamora for “standing firm in the dogged fight and underhand lobbying by the tobacco companies to undermine the passage of this very important bill.”

“We also rejoice with the sixth session of the Nigerian Senate because it will be remembered in the history of our nation for passing a bill which will place Nigeria on the map of progressive countries that have initiated policies and measures to reduce smoking and its attendant health risks. This senate will also be remembered for passing a people-oriented law which is aimed at safeguarding our public health and improving the lives of Nigerians”, Akinbode added.

He however pleaded with the leadership of the National Assembly “to fast –track the remaining legislative process to ensure that the bill is presented for presidential assent quickly.”

The National Tobacco Control Bill repeals the Tobacco Control Smoking Act of 1990, which was promulgated under the military and championed by former Health Minister, late Olikoye Ransome Kuti. The current bill is a comprehensive law providing for regulations of supply and demand measures of tobacco products. The bill was presented on the floor of the senate for second reading in February 2009 and a public hearing was conducted in July 2009 before it’s eventual passage into law.

ENDS

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