Except you belong to the folks capable of ignoring social issues, however enduring they are, you cannot but be interested in a debate over tobacco consumption. First, one must recognise the grave health implication that tobacco consumption has on the society. In spite of this, there is still a need, a key one, to ensure that all sides in the debate are given a fair hearing now that the House of Representatives has begun deliberations on the matter. In doing this, the lawmakers should remember that the call for stiffer tobacco regulation is not new, either in the country or globally. Canada and South Africa are some of the countries where the hunt for a tight tobacco regulation has been the loudest in recent times. It will be recalled that it is the same clamour that led to some of the existing anti-tobacco regulations that are currently in place.
Of great importance is what this means for the security of Nigeria, which is still grappling with the challenges of insurgents who have vowed to destabilise the peace of the country at all cost. So, any policy or regulation of government in the present circumstance as Nigeria finds itself should be geared towards making the citizenry heave a sigh of relief, not to escalate the problems. Across the world, cases of countries where strict tobacco regulations have been operational and their nasty experiences abound. A recent report on CNN provided hints that tobacco smuggling syndicates may be linked to terror groups. The reports claimed that a cigarette smuggling scheme that cost New York State millions of dollars in sales tax revenue may have provided funds for militant groups. Sixteen Palestinian men, some of them closely linked to convicted terrorists, were indicted in the apparent scheme which spans the US states of New York, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia and New Jersey.
In the case of Canada, in an article written by Douglas Quan and published in the Edmonton Journal, it was reported that about 50 contraband tobacco manufacturers operate in First Nations reserves. This was revealed by a document released under access-to-information legislation. “Combined taxes at least doubled the price of tobacco in every province and territory but Quebec, leading to why illicit tobacco is so appealing to Canadian consumers,” the report said, adding that dozens of organised crimes, mostly in Central Canada, were involved in the distribution of illegal smokes, reinvesting the profits they make into other crimes, including the trafficking of illicit drugs, firearms and human smuggling.
The report said that one of the suspects was financially linked to Omar Abdel-Rahman, the blind cleric sentenced to life jail for conspiracy to blow up New York City landmarks. Eric Schneiderman, New York attorney-general, disclosed that the government was continuing its efforts to track the hefty profits spawned by the scheme. Basel and Ramadan, two brothers who ran the scheme, were said to have obtained cigarettes from a wholesaler in Virginia and smuggled the untaxed cartons to a storage facility in Delaware. “The state of New York lost more than $80 million in sales tax revenue, while the association of some of the suspects in this case to the ‘Blind Sheik’, and a top Hamas official concerned the authorities gravely,” the report said. In the course of investigation, investigators found out that three handguns, $1.4 million cash and 20,000 cartons of cigarette were recovered from his residence.
In another instance, as reported by the Irish Independent, the government’s plans to outlaw smoking anywhere in secondary school grounds and near crèches was part of a long-time strategy to ensure that fewer than one person in 20 smokes by 2015. The paper’s report, titled ‘War On Tobacco Worthy, But Must Not Be Rushed’, drew attention to the dangers of not being careful in the deliberations that would lead to a smoke-free society. “The prohibition of alcohol in the United States during the 1920s did little more than cement the position of criminal gangs and serves as a salutary warning. There is already plenty of evidence that high taxes in Ireland are boon for crooks, while also turning many otherwise law-abiding citizens into criminals. There is also the question of equity. Many ordinary smokers deeply resent their outlaw status and insist, not without reason, that their behaviour is likely to be less lethal to others than speeding drivers or alcohol,” the paper wrote.
Currently, the security situation in Nigeria is squalid and could get worse through an anti-tobacco law that is not a product of deep thinking. To reach a conclusion that is of utmost benefit to the people, our lawmakers must be dispassionate in looking at the pros and cons of the Bill and be able to fashion out a balanced and people-oriented law. Very importantly, they need to pass a Bill that is equitable and capable of ensuring that criminal gangs and their franchises do not exploit it to their benefit or make the country a smuggling route. When terrorists and other criminals have access to funds, as may be offered by proceeds of illegal tobacco, it is like trying to put out fire with a bucket of petrol.
The lawmakers should guard against a situation where they allow selfish individuals and organisations to dictate to them. First, they have to ensure that at every point in time before the eventual passage of the Bill into law, the submissions of all stakeholders are reflected to have an enforceable law in the best interest of the country and its people. I would personally like to hear the counter-arguments of the tobacco manufacturers on a few fronts. I would be keen to hear them ventilate their reason against the allegation that tobacco kills about 300,000 people yearly as much as I would like to know the source of that figure from the Anti-Tobacco Bill crusaders. Whatever the outcome, what Nigerians and stakeholders in the industry do not want is a situation where things will go from fair to bad in the sector. Aggravation of the current state of things in the industry will be counter-productive.
Lastly, one is not in doubt that the House of Reps Committee on Health headed by Ndudi Elumelu understands the sacred and onerous task before it. The committee has already demonstrated enough commitment and respect for Nigerians by organising a public hearing. It is my fervent hope that the end product will cater for Nigerians and industry stakeholders alike.
Ambrose Jemide
