6.4m Nigerian adults are exposed to tobacco smoke – Senate

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Health, Sen. Ifeanyi Okowa (PDP-Delta) said on Wednesday that statistics had shown that about 6.4 million Nigerians were exposed to tobacco smoke in restaurants while 5.6 per cent used its products.

This was announced by Okowa at a public hearing to consider the harmonised National Tobacco Control Bill (Senate Bill) 2012 and 2014 Executive Bill.

Okowa, who attributed the statistics to the 2012 Global Adult Tobacco Survey, further disclosed that about 600,000 people die annually globally from second hand tobacco smoke.

He said it was in view of the alarming negative effect of tobacco on peoples’ health that the Senate decided to hold a public hearing.

According to him, the bill will provide the legal framework for the control of production, manufacture, sale, labelling and advertising, promotion, sponsorship and use of tobacco products and exposure to tobacco smoke.

The chairman further said the bill would provide for the prohibition of advertising, promotion and sponsorship as well as regulation of tobacco products.

“The bill we are considering today provides for health warnings and other information required on tobacco product packaging.

“It further provides for the protection of tobacco policies from commercial and vested interest of the industry as well as education and communication and public awareness as it relates to Nigerian public,” he said.

The Senate President, Sen. David Mark, while declaring the public hearing open, said the bill would help protect future generation of Nigerians from the devastating health consequences.

He also said it would protect Nigerians from social, economic and environmental consequences of tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke amongst others.

Mark said that anything with adverse effect on public health such as effect of tobacco, deserved the right awareness and attention.

“The statistics surrounding the impact of tobacco in the world at large and in Nigeria in particular, is staggering, a seemingly slow-killer that must not be ignored.

“Much to the contribution of the negative effect of tobacco and tobacco products in the country is the illegal production.

“Also the distribution and advertising of the product by many vendors lead 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 on children and adults smoking in public places and implementation of these regulations hereafter,” he said.

He said, as a member of World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and by adopting treaty on Tobacco Control, the Nigerian Government and National Assembly had to live up to the mandate.

Mark added that the Nigerian Government and National Assembly would ensure that the adverse effects and burden of tobacco and its products on public health system was sustainably controlled.

“We must understand that for this bill to be sustained, it needs more than government backing. We must shun illegality in this business sector in its entirety.

“Our customs, judicial system and relevant health agencies have to be on deck to provide succour where and when needed,” he said.

He enjoined all stakeholders at the hearing to contribute gainfully, to help the Senate Committee on Health to arrive at a more informed and conclusive decision.