The Federal Government has ruled out backing out of the
implementation of the National Tobacco Act (NTC) 2015.
The director-general of Consumer Protection Council of
Nigeria (CPC), Babatunde Irukera made the comment yesterday in Abuja when he
received the delegation of the Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance (NTCA) in his
office.
The delegation was led by the chairman governing board of
NTCA and Deputy Director of the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the
Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) Akinbode Oluwafemi and the Sub-Regional Coordinator
West Africa of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK) Mrs. Hilda Ochefu.
“As an agency of the Federal Government we have
responsibility of protecting the citizens on what they are exposed to through
purchase or otherwise. The CPC is committed to implementing all government laws
that concerned it including the NTC 2015. Sometimes we have to even protect the
people against themselves. We have the understanding of the different
dimensions the law make obligations on us,” Irukera said.
Ondaje Ijagwu who represents the council in the National Tobacco
Control Committee (NATOCC), set up to implement the law, said the CPC is
working with the Federal Ministry of Health and other stakeholders to ensure
the successful implementation of the law.
Speaking earlier, Akinbode Oluwafemi said the DGs appointment
may not be unconnected to his role as counsel to Lagos government in the suit
against tobacco transnationals in 2007.
“Nothing has changed since then as the tobacco industry has
recalibrated and now targeting women and children in a renewed effort to get
replacement smokers. The National Tobacco Control Act thus presents an
opportunity to protect millions of Nigerians from tobacco addiction and its
health, social, economic and environmental impacts,” he said.
Mrs Ochefu on her part said some of the new developments in
the tobacco industry strategy including British America Tobacco Company
intimidatory tactics and litigation against Nigeria and some other countries in
Africa that plan to implement tobacco laws.
She therefore among others urged the CPC to champion the
cause of smoke-free Nigeria and adopt tobacco control as one of the key areas
for intervention to save Nigerians from the scourge of tobacco.
By Abbas Jimoh
