By JKNewsMedia
FOLLOWING Ekiti State’s declaration of Ado-Ekiti smoke-free on World No Tobacco Day 2025, the Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) hailed the milestone and urges nationwide replication.
Spotlighting the themes: “Unmasking the Appeal: Exposing the Tobacco Industry’s Tactics”, the Ekiti State capital, Ado-Ekiti, was officially declared a smoke-free city—marking a landmark moment in Nigeria’s public health campaign against tobacco.
CAPPA noted that the declaration is a bold step towards reducing tobacco exposure and promoting clean air, also describing it as a defining breakthrough in the nation’s tobacco control journey.
Hon. Bosun Osaloni, Chairman of Ado-Ekiti Local Government, announced the smoke-free status during a ceremony organised by the State Ministry of Health in commemoration of World No Tobacco Day.
He said the move prohibits smoking in all public spaces, including schools, motor parks, offices, and markets.
A new local government by-law will enforce the policy by domesticating Ekiti State’s existing anti-smoking legislation.
CAPPA also commended the political will behind the action, stating that it aligns with global health standards, particularly the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC).
“This strategic move positions Ado-Ekiti among the ranks of progressive cities worldwide taking action to protect public health,” said Akinbode Oluwafemi, Executive Director of CAPPA.
“Ekiti – known for its intellectual heritage – has demonstrated leadership once again. Declaring the capital smoke-free is a powerful rejection of the tobacco industry’s products of death and disease,” he said.
The announcement also ties into the WHO’s MPOWER strategy—a set of six proven policies aimed at curbing tobacco use.
These include monitoring tobacco use, protecting the public from second-hand smoke, helping smokers quit, issuing health warnings, banning tobacco marketing, and increasing taxes on tobacco products.
CAPPA stressed that such evidence-based policies have reduced tobacco-related illnesses, changed social norms, and saved millions of lives globally.
Addressing the growing popularity of e-cigarettes and vaping devices, Oluwafemi cautioned against viewing these as safer alternatives. “They are not safe and often act as gateways to lifelong nicotine addiction,” he said.
The Smoke-Free Ekiti project, he added, is a vital measure not only to protect non-smokers but to “foster a culture of wellness” that discourages all forms of tobacco consumption.
CAPPA also used the occasion to call on Nigeria’s federal and state governments to back tobacco control efforts with stronger financial commitments.
It criticised the 2025 national budget allocation of N13 million to the Tobacco Control Fund as grossly inadequate.
“Smoke-free environments are not built by legislation alone—they require sustained funding, public awareness, and political commitment,” Oluwafemi stressed.
CAPPA further urged other Nigerian states and cities to follow Ado-Ekiti’s lead and take decisive steps to protect citizens from the harms of tobacco, in line with this year’s World No Tobacco Day theme.
