The Senate on Wednesday assured Nigerians that the new Tobacco Bill will not create unemployment or result in the closure of multinational companies that manufacture cigarette in the country.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, gave the assurance at the public hearing to consider the harmonised National Tobacco Control Bill 2012(Senate Bill) and 2014(Executive Bill) which seek to repeal the Tobacco (Control) Act 1990.
He assured that the new bill is designed to safeguard the health of the people.
Okowa who was reacting to the concerns raised by the Oyo State Government in which it complained that any stringent regulations in the industry would worsen the economic situation of its people, assured that the interest of all stakeholders would be taken into consideration in the passage of the bill.
He also noted that the intention of the Senate is to regulate the tobacco industry in a responsible manner, adding that the rights of the younger generation needs to be protected
“Our intention in the National Assembly is not to drive the industry away by stopping them from manufacturing. We only believe that they need to be regulated so that they will continue to act in a responsible manner.
“It is not only about the industry but also about the retailers and our attitudes as Nigerians. It is a comprehensive thing. Our intention is not to create unemployment in a responsible manner.
Okowa also added that:”People have the right to smoke but we also want people to realise that smoking is injurious to their health and that they need to protect the right of other people who do not smoke and of course, the young ones need to be protected.
“Cigarette is the only product that we allow people to buy and sell in Nigeria legally even when we know it has a lot of injury and health hazards.”
The British American Tobacco Nigeria(BATN), arguably the biggest tobacco industry in Nigeria, in its contribution, urged industry stakeholders to work towards better and balanced regulation of the tobacco industry, for the benefit of all stakeholders.
The Director, Corporate and Regulatory Affairs of BAT, Mr. Freddy Messanvi, stated that a balanced tobacco legislation will ensure that the long term wellbeing of the society was sustained.
He said, “The health of the society as well as the economic impact of any regulation should be the focus as the Senators consider the tobacco regulation bill.
“A legitimate tobacco industry that is well regulated has more benefits than one that is left in the hands of people who have little or no stake in the country.
”An overly stringent legislation that hamstrings legitimate producers from operating in the country will only lead to opening up the country to cigarettes not produced in Nigeria.
“Such a scenario has dire consequence as the quality of tobacco products will be compromised, fall in government revenue and increase in the rate of smuggling.
“We are unabashedly protective of the industry because it is not only about the cigarettes that we see, but also about economic development engendered by legitimate businesses such as BAT and its entire industry chain which includes farmers, retailers, among others. Jobs will be outsourced, and the market made more attractive for smugglers.”
Senate President, David Mark, who declared the event open, explained that the National Tobacco Control Committee and the Tobacco Control Unit were being proposed by the Bill as the administrative bodies to control the processed establishment.
Mark said:”Much to the contribution of the negative effect of tobacco and tobacco products in the country is the illegal production, distribution and advertising of the product by many vendors which has led to the cause of many diseases and untimely death of many Nigerians.
“This gathering has an onerous task of assessing issues not limited to just tobacco distribution, sale, advertising, manufacture and sponsorship but also issues like age restriction and penalties, effects of second-hand smoke, both in children and adults smoking in public places, and implementation of these regulations hereafter.
“Furthermore as a member of WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control(WHOFCTC) that adopted the treaty on Tobacco Control, the Nigerian Government and the National Assembly have to live up to this mandate by ensuring that adverse effects and burden of tobacco and tobacco products on our public health system are sustainably controlled.
“We must understand that for this Bill to be sustained, it needs more than government’s backing. We must shun illegality in this business sector in its entirety.
“Our customs, judicial system and relevant health agencies have to be ready to provide succour where and when needed. I therefore enjoin all stakeholders in this strategic public hearing to contribute gainfully in order to help the committee arrive at a more informed and conclusive decision,” he stated.
EMMA UCHE
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