The Nigerian government is set to take drastic measures to outlaw smoking as a means of guiding against diseases related to tobacco consumption. This was disclosed to CEOAFRICA news desk according to the Honourable Minister for Health, Dr. Onyebuchi Chukwu.

Speaking at the 2013 Ministerial Platform held in Abuja, where the Minister delivered the mid-term report of his ministry, Dr. Onyebuchi Chukwu said,”We are bringing out a very strong law against smoking. What was there wasn’t strong enough.”

Tobacco consumption, he said, exposed many to diseases such as bronchitis, ulcers, cancers and possibly death.

The Minister said those who may not like the law can go to another country where they can smoke themselves to death.

In his own remark, the minister of states for health, Mohammed Pate, observed 47% reduction in maternal mortality from 789 deaths per 100,000 in 2009 to 369 in 2013. Pate stated that interventions up till now have saved more than 200,000 lives of women and children, CEOAFRICA news desk reports from Abuja.