The Nigerian Senate has passed a National Tobacco Control Bill on 12 May 2015. The bill covers a broad range of issues such as manufacturing, advertising, sale and labelling. It is intended to align the Nigerian legislation with the requirements of the WHO FCTC, which the country ratified in 2005.

In order to come into force, the bill still has to be signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan. A similar was passed by the Senate already in 2011, but was never signed by the President.

The Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance, an association of non-governmental organizations like Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) and the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Center (CISLAC) have been urging the Senate to pass the bill and have it signed by the President before the end of the legislative period.

Find more information at:

http://dailypost.ng/2015/05/13/senate-passes-tobacco-control-bill-into-law/

http://dailytimes.com.ng/emulate-house-reps-national-tobacco-control-bill-erafoen-urges-senate/