Nation
Mark Rules Out Compromise On Anti-Tobacco Bill
Senate President, David Mark, on Monday denied an allegation that the National Assembly was bribed to pass the tobacco control bill.
He spoke while opening a two-day public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Health.
Mark said no senator could collect any bribe because of the sensitive nature of the bill.
He said, “Every senator will answer his name. It is not a bill that will call for a voice vote. Everyone will be made to say yes or no so that the public will know where we stand on the issue.
“For a serious bill like this to go through the next reading, people will have to really say where they stand.
“We must begin to accept that Nigerian legislators are patriotic. They don’t need to be bribed before they do their job.
There is much rumor in air. If you have a strong case make your case, when you fail to make your case, then you go with the excuse that people have been bribed.
“Any bill that comes here will pass through the normal process.”
Urging the committee to be fair to opinions from the stakeholders at the public hearing before reading a conclusion on the bill, Mark said. “We stand between health and economy; that is the truth of the matter on the ground. People who are against it are worried about the impact on the health of Nigerians. People who are for it are saying that the nation stands to benefit from it.
“The simple question is when do you begin to worry about economy? Is it when you are dead or when you are alive?
“I admit that there are lobbyists on both sides. No doubt about that. The manufactures are lobbying many people in the country. They have a strong lobbying group all over the world.
“The key issues are health versus economy. How many jobs can we provide from the tobacco industry? How many people are going to lose their jobs if the tobacco industries are not producing?
“If the tobacco industries here close down, will it stop Nigerians from smoking, is one thing, getting the industry going so that people can be gainfully employed is another thing.”
The British American Tobacco (BAT), represented by its Head of Regulatory Affairs, Mr Tony Okwoju, said the regulation was meant to reduce the impact of smoking on public health.
But the said regulation should not be used to “force law-abiding businesses out of operation and leaving the market at the mercy of smugglers”.
The representative of the World Health Organisaton (WHO), Dr Soyinka, said the industry had impacted negatively on the nation’s health.
Tobacco farmers Associations from Oyo and Abia states said about 500,000 Nigerians would lose their jobs if tobacco is banned in the country.
The committee chairman, Senator Iyabo Obansanjo Bello said: “There is no doubt about the health effects of tobacco.
“The world has come to a consensus that there are some detrimental health effects of tobacco.”
The Rivers state Government has identified six local government areas with the highest burden of maternal and Neonatal mortality in the state.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh said this in an interview with newsmen at the Maternal and Neonatal Reduction innovation initiative ( Mamii)Rivers state activation workshop and state engagement meeting in Port Harcourt.
The event was organized by The Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with its Rivers state counterpart in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh also restated the preparedness of the state government to support current efforts by the federal government towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortalities in the country.
She mentioned the affected Local Government Areas to include, Andoni,Akuku Toru and Ahoada West
The rest according to the Commissioner are, Bonny, Etche and Emohua Local Government Areas.
She said the workshop will enable the team from the federal ministry of health and social welfare to brainstorm with the view to finding solution to the problem.
The Commissioner also gave reasons why the Mamii initiative was the best as far as finding solution to maternal mortality was concerned.
“The uniqueness of the Mamii initiative driven by the federal ministry of health and social welfare was that we used evidence to elicit the reasons for this deaths, so that the solutions will be context specific and tailored to the particular environment where those deaths are occuring
“For us in Rivers state we have six Mamii LGAs , nationally we we have 172 local government areas “the Commissioner said.
Earlier in her opening remarks,Dr Oreh said the state government is prepared to work with the federal ministry of health and social welfare to check the rate of maternal mortality in the state.
She commended The Minister of Health and Social welfare Professor Ali Muhammad Pategi for driving the Mamii initiative across the country and expressed optimism that the programm will see to the end of maternal mortality in the country.
Also speaking the National Coordinator Nigeria health sector Renewal Initiative Dr Adam Ahmed said Rivers state is the last state among Mamii states in the country to host the team.
He said the team will visit the affected Local Government Areas with the view to interacting with the people on how to check the trend.
He expressed the hope that with continuous efforts, maternal mortality will be checked.
Also speaking the permanent secretary Rivers state Ministry of Health Professor Justinah Jumbo said the government is not leaving any stone unturned towards reduction in maternal deaths.
The permanent secretary said Governor Siminalaye Fubara is a health friendly Governor who is desirous in improving the quality of health of Rivers people.
John Bibor
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rivers state has declared a one day fasting and prayer to seek divine intervention on the political crisis rocking the state.
The Association said this at a media briefing in Port Harcourt.
State chairman of the Association,Most Rev. Dokiboeriya B. Kaladokubo said the fasting and prayer which holds February 5th at the Ecumenical center Abonnema wharf was in furtherance of the Association peace, advocacy, good governance and political stability in Rivers state.
He said the Association has observed with disappointment the dangerous trend and and gradual descent of governance in Rivers state into uncertainty and near oblivion, adding that the trend has exposed Rivers citizens to insecurity, economic hardship, loss of livelihood and the destruction of lives and property.
Kaladokubo said the association has also watched with dismay the unfolding political crisis in the state, stressing “what we see today is not merely a disagreement among political actors,it is a dangerous drift that threatens the very foundation of governance, peace, security and the collective well-being of our people”
According to him,”as the custodians of the spiritual and moral conscience of Rivers state,we can not remain silent while the state is pushed steadily towards chaos, institutional breakdown and avoidable suffering
“We are not oblivious of the fact that Rivers state like some other states in the federation often experience tension between the Executive and the Legislature “adding”when disagreement escalate they can hinder governance, delay budgets ,erode public trust and impede peaceful, constructive development”
The Christian body stressed the need for parties involved in the conflict to seek for peaceful resolution, stressing that as Christians and children of God “we should seek the path of peace and reconciliation as Christ Himself taught us”it said
The Association further encourage the both arms of government to imbibe the spirit of forgiveness and prioritize good governance in Rivers state
“We also advised all the parties in these conflict to call their supporters to exercise restraint in all their utterances and de-escalate tension in the interest of peace in Rivers state ”
CAN also described as disturbing the role some elder statesmen and individuals in the state have played and continue to play in the crisis when they should have serve as voices of wisdom, restraint and unity
“Rather than guiding the process towards peace, some have taken sides,fueled division and encouraged instability becoming more dangerous than those currently holding power”,it said.
John Bibor
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