Emmanuel Onwubiko -The cigarette people who smoke of Transcorp Hilton

One factor that kills off democracy is impunity and lawlessness. There’s a groundswell of empirical proof to reveal with none shadow of a doubt that one of many twin evils tearing Nigeria’s democracy aside and setting Nigeria out as some of the beastly lawless nations in at this time’s world is official impunity and corruption.

It’s impunity that made a prime army normal almost run yours faithfully out of the freeway inside Abuja this morning Thursday, August twenty second) simply due to the ‘big-man’ virus that afflicts our nation.

This specific Military Normal (one of many army chiefs) with a convoy of over 20 SUVs clearly displaying that he’s an Military Normal was on his solution to the army headquarters reverse Agura Accommodations Garki after they virtually shoved my automobile out of the highway simply because he was too necessary to experience on the identical highway and on the identical time with a ‘bloody civilian’ like Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko. The bike out-rider even pointed a pistol at me for refusing to leap into the bush.

I intentionally agreed to offer means for the lawlessly pushed convoy of the Military Normal to proceed as a result of if something had occurred to me after the bike safety element pointed a gun in direction of me, this authorities of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that has the historical past of not defending the residents, wouldn’t do something by the use of delivering social justice and if I die the Heavens wouldn’t fall as a result of many have been killed extrajudicially and the state-sponsored killers in uniforms are strolling free and taking salaries.

In Nigeria at this time, there are over 50, 000 precise murderers who’re strolling free because of a compromised justice system. In Nigeria’s official impunity and ambiguity, mass killers of the Boko haram style are freed by the federal government underneath the guise of a de-radicalisation programme wherein terrorists with blood-soaked palms are rehabilitated and resettled whereas the survivors of these they murdered are denied justice. If this isn’t official impunity, what then is impunity?

In Nigeria now, the IGP, the CDS, the heads of safety forces and the retired AIG who’s the NSA to Tinubu, are merely doing no matter they like: arresting, detaining peaceable protesters, and failing abysmally to take out armed bandits, terrorists and gunmen who’re on rampage, killing, maiming and kidnapping residents for ransom and these officers know subsequent to nothing like accountability because the President has misplaced management of those males.

This official impunity goes on in several prime establishments together with business motels, particularly these ones the place authorities officers and expatriates are frequent guests. The story you’ll learn is that of impunity and the failure of the Minister of Well being to do the needful to guard Nigerians from indiscriminate people who smoke of cigarettes in public locations.

Nigeria’s journey in direction of turning into a society that prioritizes public well being has been lengthy and arduous, punctuated by numerous challenges and milestones. Some of the vital milestones was the enactment of the Nationwide Tobacco Management Act (NTCA) in 2015, a legislative framework designed to curb the dangerous results of tobacco use in Nigeria.

Amongst its many provisions, the Act strictly prohibits smoking in public locations, a measure supposed to guard non-smokers from the risks of secondhand smoke. But, within the coronary heart of Nigeria’s capital, at one among its most prestigious motels, this legislation is flagrantly disregarded. The Transcorp Hilton Resort in Abuja, a beacon of luxurious and luxury, has develop into a haven for individuals who flout the legislation, significantly expatriates who smoke in public areas with impunity.

The Transcorp Hilton isn’t any abnormal resort. It’s a landmark institution in Abuja, frequented by the nation’s elite, expatriates, and dignitaries from world wide. It’s a place the place enterprise offers are struck, and worldwide conferences are held; a microcosm of world interplay. Nevertheless, beneath this veneer of sophistication lies a disturbing disregard for Nigeria’s public well being legal guidelines, particularly regarding smoking in public locations. This case raises necessary questions in regards to the enforcement of legal guidelines in Nigeria, significantly when expatriates and different influential company are concerned.

Strolling by way of the elegant halls of the Hilton, one would possibly discover that smoking is prohibited in a number of areas throughout the resort, such because the Bukka Restaurant, the Piano Lounge, and the Pastry Nook. These locations, all throughout the resort’s inside, are saved smoke-free, ostensibly to guard the well being and luxury of company. Nevertheless, step outdoors to the lobby simply past the foyer, and a unique actuality emerges. Right here, significantly close to the resort exit the place company wait for his or her automobiles, the air is thick with cigarette smoke, typically exhaled by expatriates from numerous Asian nations.

This blatant disregard for the NTCA is alarming, particularly in such a high-profile institution. The well being dangers related to secondhand smoke are well-documented. Inhaling smoke from a cigarette, even passively, can set off extreme well being points, significantly for these with pre-existing respiratory circumstances like bronchial asthma. For people with extreme bronchial asthma, publicity to cigarette smoke could be life-threatening. The World Well being Group (WHO) has lengthy warned of the risks posed by secondhand smoke, but in Nigeria, the place public well being challenges are already daunting, this risk is being ignored in locations the place one would count on the strictest adherence to well being rules.

One would possibly marvel why Transcorp Hilton, a resort that prides itself on offering world-class service, permits this flagrant violation of the legislation. Is it attainable that the administration is unaware of the NTCA and its provisions? Or is it that they really feel above the legislation, assured that the federal government will flip a blind eye to such transgressions? The truth is probably going extra complicated. The Hilton administration’s obvious tolerance of public smoking, significantly by expatriates, could stem from a misguided sense of hospitality. Maybe they consider that implementing the legislation too strictly would possibly offend their international company. Nevertheless, this raises one other query: why ought to the well being and well-being of Nigerian residents be compromised to accommodate the unhealthy habits of some expatriates?

I’ve personally noticed this troubling state of affairs on the Transcorp Hilton on a number of events. I’ve raised the problem with the resort’s administration, urging them to implement the NTCA in all areas, together with the lobby the place company wait for his or her vehicles. Regardless of assurances that motion can be taken, I’ve seen no vital change. The expatriates proceed to smoke with impunity, and the administration stays complacent. This inaction isn’t just disappointing; it’s harmful. By permitting smoking in public areas, Transcorp Hilton is just not solely violating the legislation but in addition endangering the well being of its company and employees.

This subject is just not distinctive to Transcorp Hilton. Many motels in Abuja, significantly people who host a big variety of expatriates, exhibit related conduct. The Abuja Continental Resort, one other main institution, has additionally been reported to show a blind eye to public smoking. This development suggests a broader drawback inside Nigeria’s hospitality trade: a willingness to miss authorized and well being requirements to accommodate influential company. This conduct is just not solely unlawful but in addition deeply unethical. It sends a message that some individuals, significantly expatriates, are above the legislation, whereas abnormal Nigerians should bear the brunt of the results.

The well being implications of this disregard for the legislation are extreme. Nigeria already faces vital public well being challenges, together with a excessive prevalence of respiratory ailments. The affect of secondhand smoke is especially regarding. The WHO has acknowledged that there isn’t any secure stage of publicity to secondhand smoke, which comprises over 7,000 chemical substances, together with 69 recognized carcinogens. For people with bronchial asthma or different respiratory circumstances, publicity to those toxins could be devastating. Kids, pregnant ladies, and the aged are significantly weak, but they’re typically those most uncovered in public locations like resort foyers.

It’s right here that the accountability of the federal government, significantly the Minister of Well being, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, comes into sharp focus. Dr. Pate, who has a powerful monitor report in international well being, together with his earlier roles on the World Financial institution and Harvard College, should tackle this subject with the urgency it deserves. Since he was appointed Minister of Well being in 2023, Dr. Pate has gave the impression to be silent on the problem of tobacco management, a silence that’s more and more troublesome to justify. One should ask: does the Minister not see the hazard posed by the widespread violation of the NTCA in locations like Transcorp Hilton? Is he unaware of the well being dangers related to secondhand smoke, or is it merely not a precedence for his administration?

If Dr. Pate is certainly dedicated to bettering public well being in Nigeria, as his credentials recommend, then he should take instant motion. First, the Ministry of Well being ought to launch a complete marketing campaign to lift consciousness in regards to the NTCA, significantly amongst companies that host expatriates and different influential company. This marketing campaign shouldn’t solely educate but in addition remind these companies that they don’t seem to be above the legislation. Enforcement mechanisms should be strengthened, and penalties for non-compliance should be utilized persistently, no matter who the offenders are.

Second, Dr. Pate should prioritize the enforcement of the NTCA in all public locations, together with high-profile motels like Transcorp Hilton. This may require collaboration between the Ministry of Well being, legislation enforcement companies, and native governments. A job pressure could possibly be established to conduct common inspections and be certain that public locations adhere to the legislation. These present in violation ought to face swift and extreme penalties, together with fines and attainable closure for repeat offenders.

Third, the federal government ought to think about amending the NTCA to shut any loopholes that companies would possibly exploit. For instance, the legislation could possibly be expanded to require extra express signage in all public locations, informing company of the smoking ban and the penalties for violating it. Moreover, the federal government might introduce stricter rules on the sale of cigarettes in motels and different hospitality institutions, making it harder for company to buy tobacco merchandise on-site.

Lastly, there should be a concerted effort to alter the tradition of impunity that permits such violations to persist. Nigerian companies should perceive that the well being and security of their company and employees can’t be compromised, irrespective of who the offender is. This may require a shift in mindset, one which locations public well being above earnings and hospitality. The Ministry of Well being can play an important position in driving this modification by main by instance and implementing the NTCA with unwavering dedication.

In conclusion, the scenario at Transcorp Hilton Abuja is a microcosm of a broader drawback dealing with Nigeria’s public well being system: the failure to implement legal guidelines designed to guard residents from preventable well being dangers. The NTCA was a landmark achievement, however its effectiveness will depend on constant enforcement. Permitting expatriates and different influential company to flout the legislation not solely undermines this progress but in addition endangers the well being of numerous Nigerians. It’s time for the federal government, led by Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, to take decisive motion. The well being of our nation will depend on it.

*Emmanuel Onwubiko is head of the HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA and was NATIONAL COMMISSIONER OF THE NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF NIGERIA.