Environmentalists beg Health Minister to save tobacco Bill

• Urges Jonathan to sign one-year-old Bill

The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) yesterday urged the Minister of Health Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu to ensure the National Tobacco Control Bill (NTCB) is signed into law.

The group said the Bill, when it becomes an Act, will prevent an imminent tobacco epidemic in the country.

ERA/FoEN, in a letter to the minister, said the failure of President Goodluck Jonathan to assent the Bill would not only reverse efforts to wean the youth off smoking, but also threaten the country’s leadership position in global tobacco control efforts.

The group said Nigeria having signed and ratified the World Health Organisation Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) is bound to domesticate it through the Bill.

The tobacco bill, sponsored by Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, was passed by the Senate on March 15, 2011 and concurred by the House of Representatives on May 31, last year. The signature of the President is required to make the bill law.

ERA/FoEN, in a statement by its Executive Director, Nnimmo Bassey, said: “Our plea for the minister to intervene at this crucial time is a patriotic call to save Nigerians from the tobacco industry’s commitment to advocating weak legislation that will ensure they continue business as usual thereby worsening our health burden.

“After the overwhelming support the bill received in the Senate and House of Representatives, It is sad that till date, it has not been signed by the President. The intervention of the Health Minister is a singular action that generations of Nigerians will not forget. Giving Nigerians this gift as we mark the 2012 World No Tobacco Day will be remarkable. 

Bassey reminded the minister of his promise during the 2011 World No Tobacco Day to ensure the Bill gets presidential assent speedily. He urged the minister to be on the watch for tobacco industry lobbyists that have been let loose to ensure the Bill never becomes law. 

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Intrigues stall passage of tobacco control bill

INTRIGUES among key officials of the Federal Ministries of Health, Trade and Investment, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), and a tobacco-producing firm have been fingered in the non-passage of National Tobacco Control Bill (NTCB), a year after the National Assembly passed it.

The Guardian learnt that President Goodluck Jonathan, whose assent is required for the bill to become law, is yet to receive the document.

And ahead of the 2012 World No Tobacco Day holding this week, some activists have doubted government’s commitment to Nigerians’ right to a healthy environment. They claimed that Nigeria lags behind in the implementation of the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

It was learnt that the bill had become a plaything between the ministries of Health and Trade and Investment.

In fact, the Federal Ministry of Health, which is named the chief implementation agency of the bill, is alleged to have failed in sending the bill to the President for assent.

There were also speculations that a tobacco manufacturing firm was arm-twisting some officials of SON and the Ministry of Trade and Investment to prevent the bill from being passed in its current form.

“The tobacco industry is in disagreement with two sections of the bill, which the operators want expunged. One of the sections is the non-inclusion of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) in the membership of the National Tobacco Control Committee as provided in the bill.

“The SON is also in disagreement with some of the oversight functions it was allotted in the bill. SON wants to be the chief implementation agency for the bill,” a source said.

While waiting for clarity on the status of the bill, activists under the aegis of Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN), have urged the minister of health to initiate the processes towards the enforcement of pictorial warnings on cigarette packs sold in Nigeria.

The group noted that Nigeria was behind in the implementation of tobacco control measures, one of which is the enforcement of pictorial warnings on cigarette packs as obtained in five of the world’s eight largest countries.

Director, Corporate Accountability Campaigns of ERA/FoEN, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said: “Pictorial warnings have been proven as one of the most effective tools to tackling the glamourisation of tobacco products; effectively communicate the health impacts of smoking and help to reduce consumption and its associated hazards.

“We believe strongly that the health minister should commence all processes that would lead to the enforcement of pictorial warnings on cigarette packs. The first step is for the minister to work for the presidential assent of the National Tobacco Control Bill,” he said.

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Jonathan urged to sign Tobacco Bill

President Goodluck Jonathan

The Environmental Rights Action (ERA) has appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to sign the National Tobacco Control Bill into law.

The group said it would do the country good as governments and public health advocates plan towards this year’s World No Tobacco Day on May 31.  

In a statement  issued in Lagos by its Director, Corporate Accountability and Administration, Akinbode Oluwafemi, the organisation urged  Jonathan to sign the  Bill to celebrate the global event.

ERA/FoEN also urged Health Minister Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu to get the president to assent to the Bill.

 Oluwafemi said: “Countries all over the world have made specific and strategic efforts to combat the dangers of smoking especially among the youths by putting laws in place to regulate the production and marketing of tobacco products. The enactment of national laws and the domestication of the World Health’s Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) are singular efforts in this direction.

“Nigeria has made giant strides in fulfilling our international obligations by attempting to domesticate the FCTC through the National Tobacco Control Bill, but we are afraid these gains that we have worked for as civil society organizations, legislators and the Ministry of Health will be reversed if the President does not sign this bill to commemorate this year’s WNTD.

“The theme for this year, Preventing Industry Interference in Tobacco Control policies is very instructive because Nigerians are worried that the bill which was passed with overwhelming public support is yet to be signed into law by the President. This is a bill that would have direct impact on Nigerians. It is the dividend of democracy for Nigerians.”

Akinbode said: “ The President cannot allow the tobacco industry to influence and derail his transformation agenda by providing qualitative healthcare for Nigerians. The whole world is waiting for Nigeria, the African continent is awaiting our leadership.”

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Tobacco bill: ERA/FoEN demands presidential assent

As governments and public health advocates plan towards this year’s World No Tobacco Day (May 31) the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria has sent a strong appeal to President Goodluck Jonathan to use this year’s commemoration to sign the across the globe Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) to assent to the recently passed National Tobacco Control Bill.

In a press release issued in Lagos and signed by ERA/FoEN Director, Corporate Accountability & Administration, Akinbode Oluwafemi, the organisation urged President Jonathan to sign the National Tobacco Bill (NTCB) to celebrate the global event.
ERA/FoEN also asked the Health Minister, Onyebuchi Chukwu to take the lead in the processes that will lead to the signing of the bill ahead of the World No Tobacco Day.
The2012 WNTD has as theme: Industry Interference, and urges government to protect their public health policies from vested and other tobacco industry interests.
Akinbode Oluwafemi said: “Nigeria has made giant strides in fulfilling our international obligations by attempting to domesticate the FCTC through the National Tobacco Control Bill, but we are afraid these gains that we have worked for as civil society organizations, legislators and the Ministry of Health will be reversed if the President does not sign this bill to commemorate this year’s WNTD.”

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Group urges President Jonathan to sign Tobacco Bill

 President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan 

The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth advises President Goodluck Jonathan to sign the tobacco control bill into law

As governments and public health advocates plan towards this year’s World No Tobacco Day on May 31st, the Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has sent a strong appeal to President Goodluck Jonathan to use this year’s commemoration to sign the recently passed National Tobacco Control Bill into law.

In a statement issued on Monday in Lagos and signed by Akinbode Oluwafemi, ERA/FoEN's Director, Corporate Accountability & Administration, the group urged President Jonathan to sign the National Tobacco Control Bill (NTCB) to celebrate the global event.

The NTCB, sponsored by Olorunimbe Mamora, was passed by the sixth session of the National Assembly on May 31, 2011. It seeks to regulate the manufacture, sale and marketing of tobacco products in Nigeria.

“Countries all over the world have made specific and strategic efforts to combat the dangers of smoking especially among the youths by putting laws in place to regulate the production and marketing of tobacco products,” said Mr. Oluwafemi.

“The enactment of national laws and the domestication of the World Health’s Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) are singular efforts in this direction,” he added.

“Nigeria has made giant strides in fulfilling our international obligations by attempting to domesticate the FCTC through the National Tobacco Control Bill, but we are afraid these gains that we have worked for as civil society organizations, legislators and the Ministry of Health will be reversed if the President does not sign this bill to commemorate this year’s World No Tobacco Day.”

The theme of this year's event ‘Preventing Industry Interference in Tobacco Control policies’ is instructive because Nigerians are worried that the bill which was passed with overwhelming public support is yet to be signed into law by the President, the group noted.

“This is a bill that would have direct impact on Nigerians. It is the dividend of democracy for Nigerians,” Mr. Oluwafemi said.

The group also called on the President to ensure that Nigeria does not renege on its international commitments to the FCTC, “as this could damage the country’s international reputation” while it can do “irreparable damage” in the country’s public health.

“We call on President Jonathan to demand today for the National Tobacco Control Bill.

“The President cannot allow the tobacco industry to influence and derail his transformation agenda by providing qualitative healthcare for Nigerians.

The whole world is waiting for Nigeria; the African continent is awaiting our leadership. The President should provide this leadership,” Mr. Oluwafemi said.

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Group demands Jonathan’s assent on tobacco bill

The Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria has appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to use this year’s commemoration of the World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) on May 31, to sign the recently passed National Tobacco Control Bill into law.In a statement issued in Lagos and signed by ERA/FoEN Director, Corporate Accountability and Administration, Akinbode Oluwafemi, the group also asked the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu to take the lead in the processes that will ensure that the bill becomes law.

The group said: “Countries all over the world have made specific and strategic efforts to combat the dangers of smoking especially among the youths by putting laws in place to regulate the production and marketing of tobacco products. The enactment of national laws and the domestication of the World Health’s Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) are singular efforts in this direction.

“Nigeria has made gi-ant strides in fulfilling our international obligations by attempting to domesticate the FCTC through the National Tobacco Control Bill, but we are afraid these gains that we have worked for as civil society organisations, legislators and the Ministry of Health will be reversed if the President does not sign this bill to commemorate this year’s WNTD.”

He explained that the theme for this year’s event: “Preventing Industry Inter-ference in Tobacco Control policies,” is very instruc-tive because Nigerians are worried that the bill which was passed with over-whelming public support is yet to be signed into law by the President.

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Shisha Smoking: The Evil Within

It has an Arabian origin, then travelled through the western world. Shisha has arrived Nigeria and is gradually gaining presence. More common in the northern region of the country than other parts, it can mostly be found in bars, night clubs and can also be personally owned. Contrary to what many see as benefits involved in shisha smoking, research findings are very alarming, Amarachi Egbeogu writes.

Many may find the word Shisha very strange, wondering what it is. Shisha, also known as Hookah, is a flavored tobacco which is smoked via a long pipe connected to an exotic-looking vessel filled with water.

Shisha smoking is becoming a common sight especially in the city of Abuja. Its awareness is more in this part of the country than in the south. Once the preserve of older men from the countries it originated from, shisha smoking is the latest trend to hit parties, bars, night clubs and lounges.

The flavoured tobacco water pipe smoking is particularly fashionable among young people today and has now become a trendy, multicultural activity particularly with students and youths.

Shisha is believed to be best 'enjoyed' in a group, having a session that can last over an hour.

Anna, an undergraduate of University of Abuja, said she enjoys smoking shisha with friends. Asked if she can smoke it alone, she replied “No, I smoke shisha in the company of friends.”  She went further to say that she finds the act very soothing and also very exciting.  “I love the nice fruity flavours; it is very soothing and also very safe” she stated.

Just like Anna, Ibrahim, a civil servant who lives in Kaduna is a shisha smoker. Ibrahim says he quit smoking cigarettes four years ago and started smoking it late last year. Ignorant of the health hazards associated with the smoking of shisha, Ibrahim claimed that it is harmless. “Shisha is really cool and unlike cigarettes, I get to smoke it occasionally.” Ibrahim mentioned that he has a shisha vessel which he entertains friends with when they visit.

Research shows that contrary to popular belief, shisha is not safer than smoking cigarettes. It usually contains tobacco and is therefore linked to the same serious life-threatening illnesses as cigarettes, such as heart disease, lung cancer, respiratory disease and problems in pregnancy.

The worst part is that shisha smokers are exposed to more toxins than cigarette smokers, because they also breathe in smoke from the charcoal used to burn the tobacco – it’s like breathing deeply next to a smoky barbecue, something most of us try to avoid.

There are added risks with shisha because it is often smoked for far longer sessions than cigarettes. Smoking shisha is a leisurely, sociable activity that is done with friends and family. In fact, a typical shisha session lasts about an hour, which is significantly longer than the usual couple of minutes people take to smoke a cigarette.

Many people are unaware of the health risks from smoking the flavored tobacco, which can be as damaging as cigarettes.

Night clubs and bars offering the traditional Middle Eastern pipes have started springing up across the country.

Shisha smokers inhale tobacco with added flavorings or sweeteners through a vessel filled with water.

Although the water cools the smoke and makes it feel less "harsh", the tobacco can still cause ill health, including lung and mouth cancer. Because the smoke is cooler, some experts say people inhale it more deeply into their lungs, which increases the risks even further.

Some shisha bars do not use tobacco, rather they offer customers with flavored herbal mixtures; but the challenge with that is people may not know the difference.

In a statement by Dr Mike Knapton, associate medical director at BHF during the course of this research, states: "Contrary to popular belief, shisha is not safer than smoking cigarettes. "Don't be duped by the sweet smell and wholesome-sounding fruity flavours. If you use shisha, you are a smoker and that means you are putting your health at risk.’’

A similar response was given by Dr Akin Orioke, a Nigerian doctor working with Julius Berger Construction Company, he said:  “shisha is filled with a lot of health hazards just like cigarettes. It can be more harmful than smoking cigarettes as a matter of fact, but most people feel more comfortable because it is smoked occasionally unlike cigarette smoking.”

Experts warn it can do more damage than cigarettes because users take more puffs of smoke. This is because a cigarette smoker typically takes between eight and 12 puffs, inhaling 0.5 to 0.6 liters of smoke. But during hour-long shisha sessions, smokers may take up to 200 drags, ranging from 0.15 to 1 litre of smoke each.

Shisha smoking is a growing concern because people are not aware of the risks involved like with cigarette smoking. The greater the exposure in terms of duration and amount smoked, the greater the risks to your health.

This is because, although shisha tobacco tastes nicer than cigarettes, it contains all the same toxicants known to cause lung cancer and heart disease.

So before you think of sucking that pipe, it is important you think about the dangers associated with the act.



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