Fashola urges Tobacco companies to adhere to regulatory standards

Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola yesterday urged tobacco companies in Nigeria to adhere strictly to regulatory standards.

Fashola spoke in his office in Alausa, Ikeja, while hosting the Managing Director of the British American Tobacco (BAT), Nigeria, Mr. Keith Gretton.

He said tobacco products pose great risks to consumers and urged companies to adhere to standards.
Fashola said: “As we do business today, we must think about the future, because without people there can’t be business. Therefore, I think tobacco companies like yours should begin to focus on doing things that will prolong the lives of their customers.

“Many of the diseases we have today are caused by the lifestyle choices that people make and these diseases are becoming more complex as a result of substance dependency and so on.

“I urge companies that produce all these things to adhere strictly to regulations, especially laws that seek to mitigate these risks.”

The governor hailed BAT for creating jobs since it began operation in 2003, adding that the government would continue to maintain a conducive environment for businesses to thrive.

He said one of the objectives of the government’s “aggressive investment” in infrastructure and security was to improve the business environment.

Gretton praised the Fashola administration for improving the state.

He said Nigeria was one of BAT’s top 10 markets, adding that the company would continue to perform its corporate responsibilities to Nigerians.

Gretton said BAT supported agriculture and remits about N15 billion in taxes annually to the Federal Government.

He said the company was building its four million pounds headquarters in Lagos, saying the building was a demonstration of the company’s long term commitment to Nigeria.

Gretton said BAT believes Nigeria has a bright economic future and would continue to support the country.
 

The Nation