Senate promises to fast-track anti-tobacco bill

The Senate will do everything possible to fast track the passage of the Anti-Tobacco Bill, Senate President Bukola Saraki has assured.

Mr. Saraki gave the assurance on Thursday in Abuja when a delegation of civil society groups led by Bintou Camara, Director, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CFTFK), paid him a visit.

He also pledged that the Senate would adhere to all anti-tobacco laws in the country; stressing that global and World Health Organisation (WHO) standards must be maintained.

Mr. Saraki, however, warned that Nigeria would not be a dumping ground for goods that had negative implications on the health of its citizens.

He said: “we must reassure you that we will not pass laws that anybody will evade. We will definitely ensure that those laws are strictly adhered to and complied with.

“I can assure you that once the necessary bills come to us from the Ministry of Health, we will fast track them and ensure they are passed into law.

“We are on the same page and I want to assure you that here in the Senate, we will work very closely with you.

“We will ensure that there are strict compliance with global standards and regulations of World Health Organisation (WHO).”

He said that the Senate would laise with the Federal Ministry of Health to ensure that draft bills form the ministry were given prompt attention.

Earlier, Bintou Camara, the leader of the delegation, said that they were at the National Assembly as part of their advocacy to ensure free tobacco environment in Nigeria.

He urged the Senate President to ensure that anti-tobacco bill was given speedy passage whenever it was brought to it by the Federal Ministry of Health.

(NAN)