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Tag: BATN

  • Smoking law: BATN lauds Lagos Assembly

    British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) and sundry stakeholders have commended the Lagos state House of Assembly over the recent passage into Law of the Lagos State Public Place Smoking Bill.

    In a statement made available to the Nation, the stakeholders praised new Law for accommodating the views of all stakeholders whilst also maintaining its responsibility to protect the citizens of Lagos State from the effects of second hand smoking.

    The Public Place Smoking Law which was passed by the Lagos State House Assembly on Monday the 20th of January 2014 has been sent to the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola for assent.

    Addressing the new Law, the Head of Regulatory Affairs of British American Tobacco, Mr. Sola Dosunmu, welcomed the passage of this Law saying it seeks to protect the non-smoking public from tobacco smoke and also guarantees the adult cigarette smokers’ right to continue to enjoy the smoking of a legal product in private places, open places and in other designated smoking areas in Hotels, Bars, Nightclubs and tertiary institutions.

    Speaking further he said, “We have studied the Law and we particularly like the fact that it is not excessive or discriminatory. It is balanced and respects choices.”

    He also praised the Lagos State House of Assembly for taking on board the views of the owners of Hotels, Bar, Lounges and Café owners who advocated for the inclusion of designated smoking areas in the Law.

    He lauded the introduction of 6 months grace period for these owners to implement any changes envisaged under the new Law as to do otherwise would have crippled their businesses even though he was of the view that a 12 months grace period was more realistic and in tune with international standards.

    Speaking further, Dosunmu debunked the insinuation that the Tobacco industry was opposed to the passage of the Law, rather he reiterated that the Tobacco industry has always advocated for the passage of balanced, evidenced led and workable Laws.  This he opined, the Lagos State House of Assembly has to a large extent achieved by the passage of this Law.

    The Law stipulates the penalties for smoking in a “no-smoking area” at N10, 000 fine or imprisonment for a term not less than one month and not exceeding three months or both.

    Bill. The Law also stipulates the penalty for non-compliance by owner/occupier of a “no-smoking area” at N100, 000 or 6 month imprisonment or other non-custodial punishments that the judge may deem fit.

    The Law allows for owners of Hotels, Bars, Night club and Tertiary institutions to demarcate at least 10 per cent of their premises as a Smoking Area for their adult customers who chose to smoke.

    The Law allows for Smoking in open places such as on the street, roads and highways as well as in private homes and residences.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • BATN supports BusinessDay’s conference

    This year’s Business Day’s An-nual Giving Back Conference

    themed: Investing in the Environment – Alternative Sources of Energy for sustainable Future with sponsorship considerations from British American Tobacco Company, (BATN) was held at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos on Tuesday.

    Discussions centered on sources of energy that would improve the economy, benefit the poor without harming the environment. The crux of the discussion was BATN’s presentation, tagged: Protecting the Poor and Vulnerable from the Effects of Climatic Change.

    According to Head, Corporate Affairs, BATN, West Africa Area, Oluwasoro-midayo George, this year’s discussion is imperative “because increased economic growth comes with adverse impact on the environment with the children, women, the poor, the elderly, and the sick as most vulnerable in communities.”

    This, she revealedm has seen her company focus its giving back to society efforts on agriculture to empower the people with knowledge that can take them out of poverty and equip them to protect their environment while engaging in economic activities. “Agriculture is a sure way of alleviating poverty in Nigeria, employing over 70 per cent of the population and contributing over 10 per cent of the gross domestic product, so any action that strengthens that sector, is bound to impact on the population positively,” she said.

    The problem of poverty is core and must be strategically tackled for Nigeria to make the required progress. “We focus on sustainable agricultural practices working with experts and government to apply sustainable systems of least adverse environmental impact while ensuring economic growth and wellbeing of the communities.”

    To this end, BAT working through its foundation, the BATN Foundation is focused on “sustainable agriculture to increase peasants ability to make wealth using environmentally friendly measures,” she said.

  • BATN donates cassava plant to Nasarawa

    BATN donates cassava plant to Nasarawa

    The British American Tobacco Nigeria (BATN) has boosted the Nasarawa State FADAMA III project with a cassava-processing plant as well as a borehole with a 5,000 water storage tank.

    The facility is powered by an electricity generator also donated by the tobacco firm.

    BATN said it decided to intervene in cassava processing to ensure higher income and better quality of life for the citizens.

    The executive director of BATN, Gbenga Ibikunle, during the commissioning of the cassava processing plant in Lafia, explained that the industry will greatly improve efficiency in the processing of agricultural produce as it is also geared towards reducing wastage and increasing productivity.

    Donating the facility to Ezzen Fadama III Users Group of Bulan Sidi community in Lafia, he emphasised the need to properly take care of the industry and regard the project as their own, rather than seeing it as not belonging to anybody in particular.

    “Let me implore all members of this community to take very good care of this plant and all the facilities that are being handed over today,” he said.

    He equally told them that the new system of processing cassava into garri and other derivatives will engender higher product quality, higher income and better quality of life for members of the Ezzen Fadama III Users Groups, Bukan Sidi community.

    The mission of the foundation, according to him, “is to improve the quality of life of citizens in rural and urban areas of Nigeria through the implementation of various community development projects in four areas.”

    The four areas, he explained, are sustainable agricultural development, sustainable potable water supply, sustainabe environmental protection and sustainable educational development.

    On the donated facilities, Ibikunle said that “they are now the property of the entire Ezzen Fadama III Users Groups, Bukan Sidi community and you must use them faithfully and guard them jealously.”

    He added that the BATN foundation is confident that “the industry will bring the best sustainable benefits to you all.”