The group, who paid a courtesy call on Saraki in his office on Wednesday, November 30, 2016, reminded him that, as a leader on the continent, Nigeria would need to be at the fore-front of the fight against tobacco control, but regretted that Nigeria had remained way behind other African countries that have reviewed their laws to be compliant with the World Health Organization Frame-work Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). “The National Tobacco Control was signed into law on May 25,2015 by former President Goodluck Jonathan. Nigeria has been a major target of multinational tobacco companies like the British American Tobacco (BAT) and Philip Morris International (PMI).
“BATN has a factory in Ibadan, while PMI has recently been accused of importing cigarettes illegally into Nigeria. PMI is currently planning to start cigarette manufacturing in llorin, Kwara State and the nation and her leaders are folding their hands and remaining onlookers.
“We must do something or get the nation’s leaders to do something,” Bintu Camera, the speaker of the group urged.
Saraki, in his response, called their cause a “valid one” and assured that something would be done about it, “as long as the issue of tobacco remained on the burner.”
He also assured that the National Assembly would pass strong laws against tobacco smoking in Nigeria by liaising with the Ministry of Health to ensure the regulation comes to life and fast-track legislation on agreed global standards on tobacco consumption.
“Be assured, you have a strong partner in the 8th Senate,” he promised.
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