Gombe State to prohibit tobacco products

The Gombe State Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism has announced plans to prohibit any business activity involving tobacco products at the multi-billion-naira Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park once it becomes operational.

This decision was made known during an advocacy visit by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, CISLAC, to the commissioner of the ministry.

The Ministry of Justice has also pledged to develop a legal framework to control the consumption and usage of tobacco products in the state.

Both ministries stated the importance of these measures for public health and pointed out the mutual benefits that could be achieved through taxation.

The permanent secretaries representing the ministries during the visit reiterated the government’s commitment to creating a safe environment for the people of Gombe State.

Babayo Hassan Abubakar, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Tourism, expressed optimism about the potential benefits of partnering with CISLAC, particularly for the state’s youth and children, noting that CISLAC’s visit served as a reminder of the ministry’s regulatory role in tobacco control.

Permanent Secretary Mohammed Isma’il Hina, from the Ministry of Justice, affirmed the ministry’s readiness to take action upon receiving directives from relevant ministries such as Health, Environment, and Trade and Industry.

Solomon Adoga and Murtala Mohammed, CISLAC senior programme officers, pointed out the need for a collaborative approach to making tobacco products less accessible and affordable.

They pointed out that higher taxation at the state level could serve as a deterrent, making tobacco products less attractive, especially to children.