Olamide Risks N3m Fine Over New Song

Popular Nigerian music star, Rapper Olamide Adedeji may be at risk of a N3 million fine and one year jail term for promoting the use of tobacco in his recently released video, ‘Wo’ as the Ministry of Health has come out to say that his song promotes smoking. The song may be the latest Nigerian hit song, but in the eyes of the Federal Government and the Ministry of Health, it is a danger to the public.
Taking to its twitter account, the ministry revealed that ‘Wo’ which featured a line where Olamide mentions cigarettes contravenes Nigeria’s law on tobacco and advertising promotion and sponsorship. According to them, the video promotes and encourages second hand smoking.
The twit also reads “the public is informed of the dangerous health content and violation of Tobacco Control Act 2015. The content and video contain scenes that violate the ban on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship provision of the act #Clear The Air”.
The 28 year old rapper who is signed to his own record label YBNL had returned to Ladi Lak in Bariga where he was raised to shoot the video of his latest single. According to the 2015 Tobacco Act, it is prohibited  to promote or advertise tobacco or tobacco products except between a manufacturer, retailer and consenting persons above 18 years of age.
“No person shall promote or advertise tobacco or tobacco products in any form. No person shall engage or participate in any tobacco advertising, promotion or sponsorship as a media or event organiser, celebrity or other participants”, it reads.
According to the 2015 law, anyone who violates the law faces a risk of a fine and jail term of not more than one year; person that produces or publishes advertising promotion or sponsorship content shall attract a fine of not less than N3,000,000 and a term of imprisonment of not more than one year.
However, the singer and song writer has come out to debunk the assumption that he was promoting tobacco. He tweeted recently saying, “No intentions of promoting tobacco to get people killed. I love my people, I love my country one love, one Nigeria #Clear The Air Oya Wo!”.