Guardian

A NEW bill seeking regulatory guidelines on tobacco products in the country has recently scaled second reading at the House of Representatives. Architect of the bill, Dayo Bush-Alebiosu representing Kosofe Federal Constituency of Lagos spoke with The Guardian on provisions and imperative of the proposed tobacco control bill.

The House of Representatives, recently, overwhelmingly supported a new tobacco control bill as it scaled through second reading on the floor. The bill sought to repeal the 2004 tobacco law with some additions.

The unprecedented support from the lawmakers raised fresh optimism among anti-tobacco advocates in the country.

Die-hard anti-tobacco advocates have made all the right noise in defence of public health against tobacco-related epidemic. But the overbearing influence of the multi-million dollar tobacco foreign investors— by hook or crook — has often reduced health concerns as mere mythmaking.

For instance and as alleged, the industry’s Big money influence (arm-twisting a key Ministry) was the primary reason President Goodluck Jonathan did not assent the National Tobacco Control Bill (NTCB) into law after it was passed by the last Senate.

Amid this, what fate awaits the new bill, sponsored by member of the Federal House of Representatives, Dayo Bush-Alebiosu?

Speaking with The Guardian, Bush-Alebiosu said it was amazing that Nigeria didn’t hear from the President why the NTCB sponsored by Sen. Olorunnimbe Mamora was not signed into law.

“However, the legislature is where democracy stands and the passage or the burying of a bill would depend on the kind of support you get from the members depending on the ayes and the nays. Luckily for us, we got all the ayes,” he said.

Bush-Alebiosu or “Bush-man” is a big name when it comes to public health motions in the lower House. Though an Architect by training, Bush-Alebiosu has found himself fronting health motions like the indiscriminate sale of Rohypnol; the motion on investigation into harms and damages that caffeinated energy drinks cause.

It is not by accident that he is traveling the troublesome anti-tobacco path. All he needed, according to him, was a personal encounter with the habit, the opportunity and gut to say enough is enough.

His words: “I’ve had some health experiences in the past that I felt I’ve been ignorant of few things and finding out now, had to kick the habit and ensure that things are done properly in the public. I used to be a smoker but thank God I didn’t get to the point of being told that if I didn’t quit, I’ll die.

“I used to drink as well; energy drinks and alcohol. I had some terrible experiences with energy drinks that I felt it is high time I do something about it. Alcohol Control Bill is in the pipeline. I do not want anybody to go through what I’ve experienced.

“So, I’ve more or less become a health crusader, though we have sponsored non-health related motions, like the Dana Air Crash compensation motion and the Intercontinental/Access Bank motion. At this time, I just found myself in the midst of a controversial motion,” he said.

He added that a country with illiteracy rate of about 70 per cent must also have people to speak on their behalf and made to understand the dangers of tobacco on their health.

“It is a fact that most kids smoke because their parents smoke and you will discover that they start at early stage of about 13 or 15 without their parents knowing it. That is one of the things that the bill targets: the fact that as a parent, you can’t smoke around your children otherwise it will be an offence.

“We are also looking at those who send children to purchase such, and it is going to be a crime. We all know that the most addictive drug in the world today - I stand to be corrected - is nicotine. That is what makes them smoke. You are encouraging a kid to do the same thing when you send them to buy tobacco. How then would you have the moral right to tell them not to smoke?

“Also, if you go riding on a street right now, you can buy 10 packs of cigarette in traffic. But should the most addictive drug in the world be sold indiscriminately without control and licensing? Tell me where that is done in any part of the world? Now, the bill also seeks to introduce licensing, saying you cannot sell without licensing and where you are found to breach the law, then you have to face the music.

“This is the only way through which we can actually protect our children, our future tomorrow. As a matter of fact, I’m not worried about tomorrow as much as I am of the present. I don’t want to die now. We all have to go someday, it doesn’t have to be now.

“How do we protect the passive smokers who never touch or go near cigarette in their life but are having tobacco related diseases? And they have a right to life, but had actually been killed. Do we consider that as an act of God or murder?

“Anyone that wants to smoke has a right to it. But I don’t want you smoking around me, or around my kids, I don’t want to work where I will be afraid to speak up against smoking for fear of losing my job. This bill seeks to protect such person.”

Bush-Alebiosu, who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Treaty and Agreement noted that the bill was in agreement with the WHO-FCTC that Nigeria is signatory far back as 2003. “When they came up with that treaty, they did not realize that tobacco could be sold in traffic. But we are looking at the peculiarity of our environment.”

Bush-Alebiosu appreciated his colleagues who must have been cognizant of the Yoruba saying that ‘an advocate of a better society will not live in it a alone’.   “I feel very humbled by their support because it was thrown on the floor and not a member said nay. Of course, no member wants to close their eyes and imagine the picture of their 15-year-old puffing away on a cigarette.

“They realized that the point is protecting the under 18s from exposure to tobacco. You would discover that most smokers start smoking from about 15 years. I used to be a smoker and thank God my children have never seen cigarette in my mouth. I’m sure no member of the House would want to see his or her children end up a smoker as well. A stitch in time saves nine.

“Whatever you will be in life, you will surely be with the support of Allah. The fact that I am able to seat before you today is because God wills that I live. The former President Yar’Adua was ill, had everything at his disposal, yet Allah wanted him to go. What would be would be but it is just important that we do certain things rightly.”

The bill introduces licensing, restriction of sales in some places including Highways, smokeless tobacco, protection in workplace, pictogram of danger signs on the packs, batch numbers, imported cigarette indicated as such among others.

The argument by the tobacco industry on providing employment opportunity and making life easier for the tobacco farmers are equally compelling. How do we juxtapose this with the bill?

“We need to understand certain things. Yes, I appreciate the fact that less than 1200 farmers are employed by the tobacco industry. We thank them for that and wish they could convince me that they have staff strength of over 100,000. Remember that we have indigenous companies in the country that have staff strength that is equally high.

“But still, this bill is not prohibiting the tobacco industry but just regulating their products. There isn’t any other place in the world without local regulations, be it France, Canada, Germany, America and so on. And they don’t sell cigarettes in Kiosks, but under strict licensing. It is really nothing like trying to drive them away.

“There are several other foreign investors in the country. If Nigeria were not seen as a fertile ground, they would not be here. If it were not seen as a huge market, where they could reach to the rest of West Africa, they would not be here.

“It is a two-way thing; in as much as they have a product that is dangerous to health, and want the business of Nigeria, they must abide by our rules. Otherwise, we are rest assured that population control through tobacco control would come to effect. If we succeed against this, then we would have been able to protect at least our generation,” he said.