Groups Commend NASS For Finally Approving Tobacco Regulations

Cat:

Related stories

Edwin Cortes: Prefers Being A Small Puerto Rican Than Big American

By Owei Lakemfa To be a citizen of the United...

June 12 And The International Pursuit of Justice For Abiola, By Femi Falana

The June 12, 1993, pro-democracy struggle in Nigeria is...

Breaking Down the West’s $146 Billion 2024 Defence Technology Investment

Advanced technologies like drones, sensors, and even artificial intelligence...

G7 vs. the World: GDP, Population, and Military Strength

Key Takeaways G7 countries represent 28.4% of global GDP...

US drillers cut oil and gas rigs for 10th week in a row, Baker Hughes says

U.S. energy firms this week cut the number of...

The Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) and the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) have described the approval of the Draft National Tobacco Control Regulations by the Senate and House of Representatives as the most befitting health legacy of the 8th National Assembly.

NTCA and ERA/FoEN in a joint statement, said that the approval of the Regulations less than a week to the end of the current session of the National Assembly is a parting gift that will fully operationalise the National Tobacco Control Act 2015 and safeguard current and future generation of Nigerians from tobacco harms.

The approval comes less than a week after the Regulations were deliberated upon at the Senate, and the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki alerted on some observed discrepancies which informed his setting up of a Conference Committee to harmonise the Senate and House of Representatives positions.

ERA/FoEN Deputy Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi said: “This is a giant leap forward in the quest to reduce tobacco harms and getting the tobacco corporations accountable for their lethal products. We commend the National Assembly for this health legacy.”

Oluwafemi pointed out that while some of the provisions in the Regulations are not as strong as Nigerians had wanted, the approval was however a bold step that has elevated Nigeria in the committee of nations that have ratified the World Health Organisation- Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO-FCTC).

The Regulations address the licensing of tobacco products, duration of the license, and the sizes of pictographs and graphic health warnings on tobacco packs, among others.

NTCA Alliance Coordinator, Oluseun Esan said: “The tobacco control community hail this much awaited approval of the Regulations which will rollback the tobacco industry onslaught on Nigerians, particularly kids that wooed by the industry to replace a dying older getneration of smokers”

The groups said it was worthy of mention that the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara stood with Nigerians at the most decisive hour of their tenure hence their names and those of the various committee members who made the approval of the Regulations possible will be written in gold.

They also asked that the process of gazetting the Regulations and commencement of enforcement by the relevant agencies of government should not be delayed.

'Dotun Akintomide
'Dotun Akintomide
'Dotun Akintomide's journalism works intersect business, environment, politics and developmental issues. Among a number of local and international publications, his work has appeared in the New York Times. He's a winner of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Award. Currently, the Online Editor at The New Diplomat, Akintomide has produced reports that uniquely spoke to Nigeria's experience on Climate Change issues. When Akintomide is not writing, volunteering or working on a media project, you can find him seeing beautiful sites like the sandy beaches that bedecked the Lagos coastline.

Subscribe

- Never miss a story with notifications

- Gain full access to our premium content

- Browse free from up to 5 devices at once

Latest stories

NDN
Latest News
Edwin Cortes: Prefers Being A Small Puerto Rican Than Big AmericanJune 12 And The International Pursuit of Justice For Abiola, By Femi FalanaBreaking Down the West’s $146 Billion 2024 Defence Technology InvestmentG7 vs. the World: GDP, Population, and Military StrengthUS drillers cut oil and gas rigs for 10th week in a row, Baker Hughes saysExclusive! Tinubu Tips Late Ajimobi's Wife, Florence, Others for Ambassadorial PostsTinubu Mourns, Pays Tribute to Legendary Super Eagles Goalkeeper Peter RufaiNatasha vs Akpabio: Court Orders Senate President To Recall Senator NatashaHadi Sirika Denies Defection to ADC Coalition Rumors, Reaffirms Loyalty to Buhari, APCChina Snubs U.S. Crude for Third Month, Even as Ethane Trade RestartsHow Super Eagles Icon Peter Rufai passed Away at 61Dakuku Peterside’s Beneath the Surface Book Out in OctoberOil Prices Dip on Confirmation of Inventory BuildBuhari In Stable Condition - Ex-Aide ConfirmsBREAKING: Ex-President Buhari sick, hospitalised abroad
X whatsapp