The Nigeria Tobacco Control Alliance has called for the establishment of smoke-free cities across the country to protect children and non-smokers from the harmful effects of second-hand tobacco smoke and related health risks.

Emmanuel Onwuka, communications officer of the alliance, made the call in an interview on Friday in Calabar, emphasising the need for stronger tobacco control measures.

Mr Onwuka said millions of Nigerians, including schoolchildren, remained exposed to tobacco smoke in buses, parks, schools, restaurants and other public places despite existing tobacco control laws nationwide.

“Data from the Tobacco Control Data Initiative shows that about 1.3 million Nigerian youths currently use tobacco or nicotine products, while 2.4 million have experimented with them,” he said.

He said smoke-free environments provided critical protection for children, whose developing lungs were particularly vulnerable to toxic tobacco smoke and its long-term health and behavioural consequences.

The communications officer said countries such as Botswana, South Africa and Mauritius had strengthened tobacco control through smoke-free policies, public awareness campaigns, pictorial warnings and plain packaging.

He urged Nigeria to adopt similar measures, saying stronger implementation of tobacco control strategies would help reduce smoking prevalence and protect public health across communities.

Mr Onwuka said the World Health Organisation (WHO) had consistently maintained that comprehensive smoke-free laws reduced exposure to second-hand smoke, discouraged youth smoking and encouraged cessation among smokers.

“Second-hand smoke increases children’s risks of asthma, pneumonia, bronchitis, ear infections, poor lung development and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome among infants.

“We acknowledge Nigeria’s National Tobacco Control Act 2015 and the National Tobacco Control Regulations 2019, but enforcement remains weak across many communities,” he noted.

He commended efforts in Ekiti, Imo and Rivers, describing them as evidence that stronger enforcement and sustained public education could improve compliance with tobacco control measures.

The alliance urged local governments across the country to adopt and enforce smoke-free bylaws that align with national legislation and state tobacco control regulations.

Mr Onwuka also called for increased domestic funding for enforcement, public awareness campaigns, tobacco industry monitoring, research and smoking cessation services to curb tobacco-related illnesses nationwide.

He further urged governments, businesses, parents, teachers, religious institutions, and community leaders to sustain advocacy efforts to create smoke-free public spaces for all citizens.

According to him, collective action by stakeholders is essential to safeguarding children’s health, reducing tobacco-related diseases and securing a healthier future for the coming generations.

(NAN)