Jump to full article: The Guardian (Lagos, Nigeria), 2009-06-18
Author: Kingsley Ogbuji, Texas, USA.
Intro: What is strikingly startling is the fact that more than 400,000 Americans die from tobacco-related diseases annually. Although we may not have accurate statistics on how many people die from it in Nigeria but I know, the situation in Nigeria is no less disturbing than the situation in America, hence the need and urgency to do without delay, what the American Congress has done.
Nigeria does not have the capacity in terms of health facilities to tackle adequately the menace posed by tobacco consumption and must save her ignorant smoker-citizens the pain of untimely death and cancer this product causes. The whole world is moving on the fast lane of checking and curbing avoidable deaths and we must not be left behind. There must be a vigorous campaign to sensitise the public on the dangers of smoking and consumption of other tobacco products and it is high time the government intervened in regulating the nicotine level of tobacco products manufactured in Nigeria or imported into Nigeria.
Now that the American Congress has taken this bold step, tobacco manufacturers will begin to shift their market targets to the Third World countries and the only way to check the infiltration of our country with unwholesome tobacco products rejected in America is to adopt a similar measure.
Our National Assembly men must realise that being a Senator or a Representative is more than fighting for constituency project money or embarking on a foreign jamboree. They owe the people they represent the duty to make laws that positively impact on their lives, laws that ensure the enhancement of their health status. Nigerians including the President have shown concern about the number of bills passed into law so far by the National Assembly and the value of such bills in terms of their direct bearing and effect on the well-being of citizens of Nigeria.
It is time for the National Assembly to wake up to their responsibilities and start doing what is beneficial to the generality of Nigerians especially the endangered species like smokers even if the move to help them is unpopular among them.
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