The bill to regulate smoking in public places in Delta State as sponsored by Hon. Evance Ochuko Ivwurie, member representing Ethiope East State Constituency, has passed through second reading successfully. This follows a seconder by Hon. Anthony Emeka Elekeokwuri member representing Ika North East State Constituency.
Leading the debate on the bill, Hon. Ivwurie said that “This bill is being introduced to protect every citizen of Delta State, all public vehicles, employees, all work places, all indoors, and the general public from the dangerous and harmful effects of secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke is the tobacco smoke that is exhaled or puffed off by smokers or is given off by burning tobacco and is inhaled by persons nearby. Around 85% of secondhand smoke is invisible and odourless”.
“The secondhand smoke is a serious health hazard, and there is no safe level of exposure. Every time someone breathes in secondhand smoke, they breathe in over 4,000 chemicals. Many are highly toxic. More than 50 are known to cause cancer”.
Speaking in support of the bill, Hon. Elekeokwuri, noted that the bill is not about smokers but for non smokers in the state who have right to Life- unpolluted air. He stressed that the bill seeks among others to protect Deltans from disease and infections resulting from indiscriminate smoking in public places, to protect the life of Children, who he described as the most vulnerable in the society and to create a designated smoking area. He therefore call on his colleagues to unanimously support the bill as it is timely and long overdue.
Other members who spoke on the overwhelming benefits of the bill included; Hon. Angela Nwaka, Hon. (Barr) Rueben Izeze, Hon. (Barr) Pat Adjudua, Hon. Alphonsus Ojo, Hon. (Barr) Daniel Mayuku and others. Subsequently, the bill was unanimously supported by the House and was swiftly committed to the House committees on Health and environment.
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