Facts emerged on Tuesday on why the Federal government will not be able to place outright ban on cigarette smoking because it will lead to loss of jobs and revenue.
This was revealed in a report presented for consideration by Senate Committee on Health and which was passed into law after clause by clause consideration.
With the passage of the bill into law, anybody who smokes in public places is liable for six months imprisonment.
The findings of the committee states,” if tobacco regulation becomes excessively restrictive and legitimate producers close shop, smokers would continue to smoke. Demand would then be met via smuggled cigarette thereby transferring jobs and revenue to other countries.
“There will be longer be industry operators such as producers to engage in terms of product quality, seeking alternative products to regular cigarette, assisting in the fighting against smuggling.”
The committee also in its finding lamented that absence of adequate legal framework has greatly affected the nation in getting required data base or actual numbers of smokers.
It states,” the absence of adequate legal framework has greatly affected the nation in getting required data base or actual numbers of smokers/ statistics on smoking population, as several millions of smokers in Nigeria and their numbers are yet to be ascertain because many cigarettes consumed in the country are smuggled.”
The findings of the committee also indicate that smokers have the right to make lifestyle choices, but in exercising such right, they should not harm others.
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