LAGOS, Nigeria(VOICE OF NAIJA)-As the world marks the 2025 World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) with the theme “Unmasking the Appeal: Exposing the Tobacco Industry’s Tactics,” the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has commended the Ekiti State Government for declaring Ado-Ekiti a smoke-free city.
In a statement signed by its Media and Communications Officer, Robert Egbe, CAPPA described the move as a landmark achievement in Nigeria’s tobacco control efforts. The organisation urged other cities across the country to follow Ado-Ekiti’s lead in implementing smoke-free policies.
The Executive Director of CAPPA, Akinbode Oluwafemi, noted that with this declaration, Ado-Ekiti has joined a growing global network of cities taking proactive steps to reduce tobacco exposure and protect public health. He called the initiative a bold step that reflects strong political will and alignment with global best practices.
The smoke-free city status was formally announced by the Chairman of Ado-Ekiti Local Government, Hon. Bosun Osaloni, during a ceremony organised by the Ekiti State Ministry of Health to commemorate WNTD.
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Hon. Osaloni stated that smoking is now prohibited in all public spaces within Ado-Ekiti, including schools, offices, and motor parks. He added that the directive will be backed by a local government by-law that enforces the state’s existing legislation on smoking in public places.
“This is a significant stride. Ekiti, known for its commitment to education and progressive governance, has set a new standard by not only banning public smoking but also declaring its capital city a no-go area for the tobacco industry’s products of death and disease,” Oluwafemi remarked.
He added that the policy is in line with the World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and the MPOWER package. The package is a set of six proven policy tools designed to reduce tobacco use globally.
These include monitoring tobacco use, protecting people from smoke, helping users quit, warning about dangers, enforcing bans on advertising, and raising tobacco taxes.
Furthermore, Oluwafemi also raised concerns about the rising use of vaping products and e-cigarettes, especially among young people. He warned that these products, often marketed as safer alternatives, are neither harmless nor risk-free.
“The Smoke-Free Ekiti project is a vital response to this emerging threat. It not only shields non-smokers from involuntary exposure but also shifts social norms, reduces long-term health risks, and fosters a healthier society,” he said.
Using the occasion as an opportunity to advocate, CAPPA called on the federal and state governments to institutionalise funding for tobacco control through dedicated budget lines.
It described the current allocation of N13 million to the Tobacco Control Fund (TCF) in the 2025 national budget as grossly inadequate.
“Smoke-free environments aren’t achieved through legislation alone,” Oluwafemi stressed. “They require political will, adequate funding, inter-agency collaboration, public support, and sustained education.”
