Today, the world marks World No Tobacco Day, a global initiative aimed at raising awareness about the health risks of tobacco use and advocating for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption. In Nigeria, the day serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to tackle the rising menace of tobacco use, particularly among young people.
Tobacco-related illnesses continue to pose a significant public health challenge in Nigeria. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco kills more than 8 million people worldwide every year, with approximately 1.2 million deaths attributed to secondhand smoke exposure. In Nigeria, an estimated 4.5 million adults use tobacco products, while the number of youths experimenting with cigarettes and other tobacco products is on the rise (Nigeria Global Adult Tobacco Survey, 2018).
Health experts are particularly concerned about the aggressive marketing tactics employed by tobacco companies targeting young Nigerians. Flavored cigarettes, enticing packaging, and promotion via social media and popular culture are luring many into addiction.
Dr. Grace Eze, a public health specialist, warns, “The tobacco industry’s interference in our communities is insidious. They are targeting our children and young adults with products designed to hook them for life.”
Despite the National Tobacco Control Act (2015), enforcement of tobacco regulations remains weak. Single-stick cigarette sales — which make tobacco products affordable and accessible — continue unabated in many parts of the country, undermining efforts to curb youth smoking.
Civil society groups like Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) have called on the government to step up enforcement, increase tobacco taxes, and ban all forms of tobacco advertising and promotions to protect vulnerable populations.
On this World No Tobacco Day, various awareness campaigns and youth-led activities across major Nigerian cities have sought to educate the public about the dangers of tobacco. In Lagos, a youth rally featured testimonies from former smokers who shared their struggles with addiction and urged peers to stay tobacco-free.
The government, health agencies, and communities are urged to collaborate in providing robust cessation support services, promote smoke-free environments, and intensify educational campaigns — especially in schools — to protect the health and future of Nigeria’s youth.
As the global community unites today to mark World No Tobacco Day, Nigeria stands at a critical junction. The fight against tobacco requires sustained commitment to safeguard public health and ensure that the tobacco epidemic does not claim more lives in the years ahead.
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