New Nigerian Newspapers Online Edition

In order to effectively enforce the ban on smoking in public places in the Federal Capital Territory come June 1, 2008, the FCT Minister, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo Umar has setup a committee for its actualization.

The Minister who made this revelation Thursday in Abuja said the FCT Executive Committee in its last meeting already endorsed its constitution to allow smooth implementation of the ban, where he said that anti-smoking law is already in existence as an Act which the FCT Administration would conveniently exploit to sanction offenders when prosecuted at the court of law.

He recalled that the “Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places Act” was enacted by the Federal Government when Professor Ransome Kuti was the Minister of Health, observing that the FCT Administration can also effectively use the “Public Health Act” to prosecute offenders, and therefore called on all residents of the Territory to cooperate with the Administration in building a world class and inclusive city as envisaged by its founding fathers.

The Minister restated that the initiative is not new to the laws of the country saying that what the Federal Capital Territory Administration is doing is just to exploit and enforce existing laws on anti-tobacco smoking in public places for the overall interest of the residents.

According to him, the Committee which is to be coordinated by the FCT Social Development Secretariat is chaired by its Secretary, Mrs. Felicita Banehita-Olajide with other eight members.

Meanwhile, the FCT Minister, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo Umar has also expressed the intention of the FCT Administration to re-design some streets in the Federal Capital City .

The Minister said that the proposed re-design is for the purpose of gingering urban renewal that will open new doors of opportunities to fast track economic development of the City.

“The re-design will no doubt put the Federal Capital City on a sound economic base as it will serve as catalyst for genuine economic activities that will naturally spring up”, he said.

The Minister said that four major streets will be on the pilot scheme which will be sited in Maitama, Wuse II and Garki II Districts in the phase I of the Federal Capital City , Abuja .