by Isi Esene

The National Assembly on Wednesday, 16 July, held a public hearing for the National Tobacco Control Bill in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.

“Legislators are concerned and are willing to use their legislative authority to pass the bill,” said the chairman of the House Committee on Justice, Honourable Ali Ahmed, adding that Nigeria still lags behind in the implementation of the World Health Organization Framework Convention for Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).

At the hearing, tobacco control advocates also spoke passionately in fabour of passing the bill, led by Akinbode Oluwafemi of full name spoke passionately in favour of passing the Tobacco Control Bill.

Areas covered were including making public areas smoke free, banning of designated smoking areas in Nigeria, banning automatic vending machines for tobacco products, and a complete ban on all forms of advertising or promotion and pictorial/graphic warnings on 75% of cigarette packets. It was also stipulated that taxes should be used to discourage smoking.

Tobacco Control Nigeria is a public health and policy change campaign project that uses social media to advance tobacco control and support the passage of a comprehensive Tobacco Control-law compliant with the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

“TobaccoCtrl seeks to sign up cause champions who will join the group in calling on Nigerian Lawmakers to pass a comprehensive National Tobacco Control Bill (NTCB) through mobile and social mediaengagement support for the on-the-ground advocates,” said Adeboye Adegoke, who is community manager for TobaccoCtrl, the campaign.

With 10 million Nigerians presently at risk of tobacco epidemic, billions of tobacco sticks are still being produce in Nigeria at the moment, constituting a major public health risk.

To be part of the TobaccoCtrl campaign Text (TC Name Email Location) to 39405 or visit bit.ly/tcchampion. Or you can follow online with the details below.

Website: www.tobaccoctrl.ng

Facebook: www.facebook.com/tobaccoctrl

Twitter: www.twitter.com/tobaccoctrl

Google Plus: www.gplusid.com/tobaccoctrl

Isime Esene