The Senate on Tuesday,
passed into law, the National Tobacco Control Bill 2015 (Senate Bill) and 2014
(Executive Bill) which seek to repeal the Tobacco (Control) Act 1990.
The bill specifies the
specific places where users of cigarette could smoke and areas where smoking
was forbidden.
The 52-clause document
also prescribed various punishments for either the smoker who flouts the law or
owner of public places who failed to paste ‘No Smoking’ inscription on their
premises.
Deputy Senate
President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary noted that the bill
when assented to by President Goodluck Jonathan, will repeal the existing law,
titled, “The Tobacco Smoking (Control) Act, CAP.T6, LFN 2004, enacted in 1990.
The bill,
sponsored by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa,
according to Ekweremadu, will also ensure effective regulation and
control of production, manufacture, sale, labeling, advertising, promotion and
sponsorship of tobacco and tobacco products in Nigeria.
He said it will further
ensure balance between economic consideration and health implications of
tobacco manufacture, use and exposure.
Ekweremadu said, “The
passage of the bill is a milestone for us at the senate. The dangers associated
with smoking cannot be overemphasised and the tragedy here is that those at
risk are not just those who smoke but also those around them, their loved
ones, their families, neighbors and friends.
” It is important that
we regulate smoking and other matters related with tobacco manufacturing and
sales.