By Gregory Austin Nwakunor

But a BATCO official, Mr. Tony Lear, said that the company was doing legitimate business in the country.

The youths, who came in about eight buses and cars numbering about 100, carried different placards and banners with various inscriptions such as "No more killing of Nigerian youths, No more smoking."

The demonstration was part of activities marking the first yearly "Nigeria Smoke Out Day." The event, part of activities marking the "World's No Tobacco Day" held yesterday, also attracted non-governmental organisations.

It was used to sensitise Nigerians on the need to shun smoking and tobacco-laden environment and also to urge the government to ratify the global health treaty, the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).

The protesting youths claimed that the entry of BATCO into the Nigerian market was particularly alarming since the company was allegedly doing everything within its reach to get the youths to smoke.

Mr. Adedayo Thomas of Nigerian Popular Theatre Alliance said the group was tired of the destruction of the lives of youths in the country. He urged BATCO "to leave Nigeria."

He added that "the Federal Government should for humanity sake ratify FCTC, which Ghana and some African countries like Kenya and Seychelles have done."

Adeola Akinremi of Journalist Action on Tobacco and Health (JATH) said that the demonstration was to stop the promotional tactics of the multinational, allegedly prompting Nigerian youths to sudden death.

"We think this is criminal because it goes beyond targeting the young people, it is about using teens as agents of the killer product," he added.

Only recently, a Nigerian journalist, Mr. Tosin Orogun, attended the yearly shareholders' meeting of Philip Morris, where he accused the company of killing Nigerian youths by encouraging them to smoke.

Orogun also accused the tobacco giant of insidious activities in the promotion of its brand cigarette in Nigeria with direct and aggressive marketing to the youths.

The meeting, held in East Hanover, New Jersey, had over 100 youths and adults from Nigeria, Indonesia, India, Thailand, California, Hawaii, New Jersey, New York, and Wisconsin denouncing Philip Morris's global expansion. The meeting coincided with the 50th anniversary of the company.

Lear, factory manager of BATCO, said " though the company understands the way the youths feel, they must also know that the company is doing a legitimate business here."

Among the organisations that took part in the demonstration were Educare Trust, Ibadan, Oyo State; Tobacco Free Youths, Akure, Ondo State; National Youths Empowerment, Lagos; Childhood Development Project, Osun State; Tobacco-Free Students Club, Lagos; Nigeria Popular Theatre Alliance, Lagos and JATH.