Florence Ifeanyi-Aneke is the executive director, New Life Community Care Initiative (NELCCI), and Coordinator of the Enugu State-based Association for Orphans and Vulnerable Children NGOs in Nigeria . In this encounter with journalists in Lagos, she speaks on the growing tobacco menace and the importance of strong legislation in stemming a looming epidemic in Eastern Nigeria. She urged government at different levels to rise to the challenge of leadership.
Assistant Politics Editor, Daniel Kanu, was at the event.
Excerpts
Recently you applauded the Anambra State anti-smoking law. How important is the legislation?
The anti-smoking law in Anambra State like I had said, is a right step in the right direction because the move by Hon. Ikem Uzoezie of Aguata II for a law on regulation of smoking in public places, shows that tobacco control is now taking foothold in the Eastern Nigeria. Before now we only heard of Abuja declared smoke-free and similar developments in Lagos, Osun and Ekiti states. Aside the sensitization campaign on the dangers of smoking via community tobacco parliaments and youth engagements, which NELCCI is engaged in Enugu, nothing much has happened to pull the rug off tobacco companies that are having a field day marketing lethal products to kids and the uninformed citizens. That is why my organisation is in support of the process that has started in Anambra and demanding that states like Enugu should emulate it. And it will be a welcome development for other states that are still hesitating on this issue to join the queue.
Tobacco has wasted a lot of lives and I think it’s time to say enough is enough of this preventable deaths. There must be legislation and offenders must be made to face desired penalty.
Could you throw more light on the tobacco situation in the South East states?
As you and I know, the tobacco menace is national and global. It is not a mere eastern challenge. The only reason we now talk of the eastern part is because there are some levels of awareness and activities going on in other regions of Nigeria which we do not see here. You hardly hear of tobacco and tobacco menace on radio or television. Tobacco entities organise promotions and other engagements that induce the youths to take to the smoking habit. Apart from cigarettes, shisha patronage is growing here. Ladies are surprisingly more inclined to shisha because it is portrayed as chic and safe and comes in very enticing flavours. Aside the move by the Anambra State House of Assembly to regulate smoking in public places, no other state has such legislation in place or in the works. On the streets, public buses and public spaces you see people smoke freely thereby endangering themselves and those who do not smoke. It is a common thing here in Enugu. When you go round you see it. I am sure you know that inhaling the smoke from other persons that smoke equally leaves non-smoke in great danger over time. It is sad our government at various levels are not doing enough. I urge them to rise to the challenge of leadership and arrest this growing monster that is putting our lives at great risk.
Why are you so emphatic about Enugu State?
The reasons are not far-fetched. Enugu has a huge and adventurous youth population, three major institutions of higher learning, hundreds of secondary and primary schools and a peaceful environment which, combined, make it a magnet for marketers of tobacco products. It may interest you to know that Enugu was specifically mentioned in the list of five states that tobacco companies deliberately situate their point of sale near schools thereby exposing pupils to experimenting tobacco. The document: Big Tobacco Tiny Targets Nigeria Report which was published last year showed how grave the situation is with frightening facts. I expect we move fast and act now.
Some of the schools mentioned in that report are around us in Abakpa, Uwani etc. So it is not a problem very far from us because these are the major schools in the heart of town which most parents send their wards to.
So, what can be done?
For a start, Parents-Teachers Associations, School boards, Principals of schools and the Enugu State Ministry of Education should get involved. Our schools should be declared smoke-free zones. The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Camp should be declared smoke-free. We are now at the point of engaging our lawmakers to put the relevant laws in place to checkmate the looming epidemic in the state.
In addition to this, sensitization on the dangers of tobacco which we are now engaged in should escalate but with government agencies involved for wider reach. All hands must be on deck if we must win this war.
You also mentioned Community Tobacco Parliaments. What are they?
The Parliaments are organized in form of the Parliament we know with community people and stakeholders from all walks of life, excluding tobacco entities and their fronts. The Parliament is an experiment which targets educating community people on dangers of tobacco and the National Tobacco Control Act which became law in 2015. The tobacco parliament is also an opportunity for participants to ask questions agitating their minds and identify how they can partner with other stakeholders to ensure the Act is implemented when finally there are regulations in place. We held one in concert with Environmental Rights Action (ERA) early this year and plan to take the message to more communities, not only in Enugu but also other eastern states. We have also taken the message to Corps members who represent a bulk of youths that tobacco companies also market their deadly products to. It will require the combined efforts of all stakeholders to be put to work on this crusade and before you know it, we will sing victory song. Time is of essence, we must move fast in creating and sustaining awareness coupled with strong legislation that must let offenders face the music.