The Senate has begun moves aimed at permanently
banning the manufacturing, consumption and
promotion of tobacco in Nigeria.
But the development generated controversies among
senators, yesterday, during debate on a bill to that
effect just as the Senate President, David Mark,
lamented that powerful individuals who were against
the ban and regulation of tobacco in the country
influenced Presidency to withhold assent on a similar
bill sponsored and passed by the 6th Senate.
Senators, who spoke during debate on the bill which
was presented by the Chairman, Senate Committee on
Health, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, PDP, Delta North for
deliberation, were sharply divided.
He said: “The essence of the Bill is to highlight the
dangers inherent in smoking and it also seeks to
regulate advertisement about smoking. We have gone
one step further to ban it also but when it goes to
public hearing, then we will get public opinion on that.
Source:- Vanguard
