Group praises Oyebanji on Smoke-Free city declaration, urges FG to follow footsteps

By Samuel Ogunsona

The Governor of Ekiti State Abiodun Oyebanji has received global applause for being the first to declare a smoke free city in Nigeria.

This commendation came as the world marks World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) 2025 with the theme, “Unmasking the Appeal: Exposing the Tobacco Industry’s Tactics.”

In a statement signed by the group Media and Communication Officer, Robert Egbe, made available to Irohinodua on Thursday, the group congratulates Ekiti State Government for the historic declaration of the state capital, Ado-Ekiti, as a smoke-free city.

CAPPA urges the Federal Government and other states to emulate Oyebanji’s striking example.

The group described the declaration as a defining moment for Africa, Ekiti State and Nigeria’s tobacco control journey, urging other cities to emulate same and implement smoke-free environments nationwide.

Akinbode Oluwafemi, CAPPA’s Executive Director, noted that with the declaration, Ado-Ekiti has joined a growing global movement of subnational governments and cities that are taking bold steps to reduce tobacco exposure and protect the right to breathe clean air.

The declaration was made by Hon. Bosun Osaloni, Chairman of Ado-Ekiti Local Government, during a ceremony hosted in Ado-Ekiti by the State Ministry of Health to commemorate WNTD. Osaloni announced that, henceforth, smoking is prohibited in all public places in the city, including schools, motor parks, and offices.

The directive will be backed by a local government by-law that domesticates the existing Ekiti State Prohibition of Smoking in Public Places Law.

According to CAPPA, the initiative reflects both local political will and a strategic alignment with global public health standards. Oluwafemi said: “By this gesture, Ekiti – famed for its leadership in the pursuit of knowledge – has once again taken the lead by becoming one of the first states in Nigeria to not only prohibit smoking in public places but also declare its state capital, a no-go area for the tobacco industry’s products of death and disease.”

“This strategic move aligns with global best practices and the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), to safeguard the health and well-being of Ekiti residents.”

The smoke-free cities campaign is a globally recognised public health strategy driven by evidence and championed by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Oluwafemi noted that the emergence of vaping and other newer tobacco products in recent years has introduced fresh challenges, particularly among the youth.

He added: “These products are often marketed as safer alternatives, but they are neither safe nor an alternative to good health. On the contrary, the use of e-cigarettes and other vaping devices leads to nicotine addiction, respiratory issues, and potential long-term health consequences.”

“The Smoke-Free Ekiti project is therefore a necessary counter to this trend. It will not only protect non-smokers from involuntary exposure but also shift social norms, reduce long-term health burdens, and foster a culture of wellness.” CAPPA also urged federal and state governments across Nigeria to create a budgetary line for tobacco control, saying it is critical to countering the menace of the tobacco industry.

CAPPA renewed its call for the federal government to significantly increase the Tobacco Control Fund (TCF) beyond the N13 million allocated to it in the national budget for 2025, in the interest of public health.

“Smoke-free environments are not achieved by law alone—they require political will, budgetary allocations for tobacco control, inter-sectoral coordination, social acceptance, and consistent public education,” Oluwafemi added.