As the smell of cigarette smoke lingers in public places across Nigeria, health advocates are sounding the alarm. At a recent workshop held in Gombe forc Civil Society Organisations organised by Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) on Tobacco Taxation and Gender Mainstreaming, the message was clear: “Let our people breathe clean air.”
Stakeholders including women’s rights activists, youth advocates, gender professionals, media practitioners, and legal experts noted that public smoking continues to quietly harm families, particularly in rural and low-income communities.
Many shared personal accounts of neighbours battling chronic coughs, children and pregnant women unknowingly inhaling second-hand smoke while going about their daily lives,even people living with Disabilities while begging for alms in open spaces.
“It’s no longer just about smokers’ rights,” said Comrade Gloria Usman, a gender advocate. “It’s about innocent people children, pregnant women, the elderly—being forced to inhale toxic air they didn’t choose.”
Barrister Martha Daniel and Barrister Lama Jack pointed out that while Nigeria has a robust National Tobacco Control Act, enforcement remains weak. Public smoking, they said, has become “normalised” in markets, motor parks, buses, and even hospital premises.There is the need for domestication and enforcement of the laws”.
Youth activist Yargata Yusuf expressed concern over the growing trend of shisha and cigarette use among teenage girls, driven by peer pressure and misleading content on social media.
“This addiction is stopping many girls from reaching their full potential,” she said. “We need to start early with awareness and support.”
Idris Maigari Lawanti of the Lawanti Foundation called for collective action from stakeholders at all levels to address the tobacco smoking crisis.
Presenting a paper titled “Tobacco Use and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs),”, Senior Programme Officer at CISLAC Mr. Solomon Adoga, painted a grim picture.
He revealed that 29% of all deaths in Nigeria are now linked to NCDs such as cancer, stroke, Diabetes and heart disease with tobacco use being a leading cause.
“Tobacco is a silent killer,” Adoga warned. “It contains over 70,000 chemicals at least 70 of them cause cancer. It kills the smoker, the seller, and even those who never smoke a cigarette its consequences affect all hence it is a public health concern.”
He emphasised that public smoking is not a private choice it is a public health threat, especially to vulnerable groups. He reminded participants that public smoking is banned in Nigeria, but the law is often ignored.
The workshop also explored the gendered impact of tobacco use.
“Tobacco use among women increases the risk of miscarriage, stillbirths, and cancers like cervical and breast cancer,” Adoga said.
Women, he noted, are doubly affected—as users and as victims of second-hand smoke. Often confined to indoor environments with little control over air quality, they bear a disproportionate burden of exposure.
Adoga also discussed Tobacco Taxation and Gender Mainstreaming, arguing that fiscal policies must be designed with women in mind.
“Tobacco taxation is a powerful tool for reducing consumption, but it must be implemented with gender sensitivity,” he said. “Women face greater economic and health risks, so tax revenues must fund gender-responsive health programmes, cessation support, and awareness campaigns tailored to women’s realities.”
Mohammed Mustapha of CISLAC highlighted the narcotic nature of tobacco, sharing the story of a former smoker who managed to abstain for two years but eventually relapsed under emotional stress. Tobacco is highly addictive, and many smokers find it extremely difficult to quit.
Interestingly, animals instinctively avoid tobacco leaves — a fact some farmers take advantage of by planting tobacco around their farms to protect it
This natural rejection by animals suggests that tobacco leaves are not healthy for consumption,
Participants outlined a clear set of urgent, actionable recommendations:
Strict enforcement of smoke-free laws, especially in public places
Increased taxation on tobacco products to discourage access and fund health interventions
Gender-sensitive awareness campaigns.
Support for community-based CSOs, especially those working in underserved communities
The call for a smoke-free Nigeria is no longer just about laws and policies it’s about people. Real lives. Real families. And a future that deserves to be protected.